May 9, 2008
Fixing NASA IT
NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale's Blog: Information Technology Update
"This week at the Operations Management Council (OMC) meeting, a significant portion was dedicated to the work we are doing to improve information technology (IT). In 2007, the Strategic Management Council, approved strategic initiatives to:
1) clarify the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) as stated in NPD 1000.3 and define core IT services that shall be provided by the CIO;
2) realign the NASA IT organization to reflect the role of the CIO and better connect with customers;
3) create a governance structure and processes to engage key stakeholders, inform IT investment decisions, and apply project management discipline to IT projects;
4) increase visibility into IT budgeting and spending through management controls and fund base IT services through a combination of Corporate and Center Management and Operations funding;
5) improve integration, security, and efficiency of IT by consolidating infrastructure and management control; and 6) assign ownership of application portfolios and create a CIO-facilitated process to drive application standardization and efficiencies."
Posted by kcowing at May 9, 2008 12:30 PMAmazing how much is spent on IT, maybe it's necessary. However, I don't like the trend to centralize every computer to be networked to the same system. There are very good reasons to have some computers to be standalone, and these are not 'flight systems.' (i.e. a Windows PC not connected to the internet rarely crashes).
PS: I like the new logo though only old timers from the 20th century would understand it.
Posted by: Michael Wright at May 9, 2008 2:20 PMOnce upon a time, the "IT" folks existed to help the researchers and engineers accomplish their missions. Now, the researchers and engineers exist to provide the "IT" folks with people upon which to foist the latest fads and harebrained ideas. I hope that when the McCain or Obama adminstration comes to power, the people that are placed in charge at NASA will have to sense to undo all these "important initiatives."
Posted by: Chuck in Hampton at May 9, 2008 2:48 PM