The City of Ann Arbor’s vision of leveraging information technology to enhance the efficiency of government operation requires an IT oversight capability, or governance, that ensures proper involvement of all areas of City government in IT investment decision making process.
"Governance" is the process of securing user input on such issues as direction, establishing priorities, reviewing technology decisions, and providing effective user communication in systems development and daily operations. The governance process is meant to involve those individuals, organizations and interests served by the technology resource in meaningful and significant participation.
Provision of information technology services requires unique control methods that ensure that the best interests of the City are served and, at the same time, ensure that the services offered to users are relevant and cost effective. This form of control is best applied through the use of an “Information Technology Governance” structure.
To exercise proper oversight in the planning, funding, acquisition and deployment of information technology, a two-tiered governance group has been established.
The highest level is the Information Technology Leadership Board. Given the increasingly critical role of Information Technology, the complexity of current technology, and the nature of the City’s management structure, a body is needed to advise and assist the Director of IT in guiding IT investments and management to provide the greatest benefit to citizens, service areas, partners, and employees.
Through the Information Technology Leadership Board’s leadership, the City IT community speaks with a single voice on issues of common interest and benefit.
Reporting up through the Information Technology Leadership Board are five Information Technology Customer Steering Committees and the Enterprise GIS Customer Steering Committee.
Through this Governance structure, along with the Annual Information Technology Planning process, the City of Ann Arbor is ensuring maximum business value for its IT investments.