A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

ACIOs are "Force Multipliers"

Of all the changes that have resulted from the OCIO reorganization, perhaps one of the most innovative is the addition of five new associate CIOs (ACIOs).

The ACIOs act as a "force multiplier" for CIO Craig Luigart. The five ACIOs allow Luigart to be five times as effective, and give ED staff five times as much visibility and access to the CIO. While there may exist variations of this concept of "force multiplier" as a strategy to achieve improved effectiveness, the idea is new to ED and other executive agencies.

The ACIO positions were created to help the Department implement the various provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act, which gives the CIO responsibility for overseeing the design, development and implementation of information systems. The ACIOs help promote an enterprise view of ED's information technology-related operations, and serve as a portal to the wide array of OCIO services.

The ACIOs are assigned to individual program offices; however, they operate primarily as a team. The team concept allows OCIO to provide the individual program offices with direct access to the wide range of skills required of a CIO. The team concept also facilitates an enterprise view of ED. s business processes and their relationship to Information Resources Management (IRM). ACIOs act as consultants and facilitators of program office-sponsored IRM initiatives. However, they are not the owners of those efforts. Direct communication is ongoing and consistent as a result of the team concept.

The ACIOs primarily:

• Represent the CIO in the IRM-related activities of the program offices, including accessibility issues.
• Coordinate the delivery of OCIO services such as network and telecommunications support to program offices.
• Define and assist program offices with implementing IRM processes such as the Information Technology Architecture, Capital Planning Process, Government Paperwork Elimination Act, Systems Development Lifecycle Methodology, Asset Management and Information Technology Acquisitions.
• Provide technical advice, analysis and solutions development support to ED program offices.
• Provide project management support to program offices in accordance with ED Systems Lifecycle Methodology.

Informally, the ACIOs began working as a team after the first of the year. The positions were formally ratified in April 2000.

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