Foreword

All organizations worth their salt rely on strategy.  Whether Google (Organize the world’s information) or Nike (Everybody is an athlete) or the State of California, strategy sets direction toward a more productive future.  Like Odysseus in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey who was lashed to the mast of his ship so he could not follow the sirens’ song to destruction, strategy helps us navigate the uncertain and complex world in which we operate.  As business moves faster, organizations must have a strategy if they hope to survive.  Strategy is about making tough choices.  Indeed, great strategies are a cause. 

Government agencies have been building strategic plans for decades.  The typical form – values, principles, mission, vision, strategies, goals and actions – has served mature agencies well.  In California, however, we need more.  The CIO is committed to working closely with the state’s business leaders to ensure that business needs drive the application of technology.  The CIO inherited a complicated technology environment of infrastructures, systems and departments pursuing a vast array of large projects. 
Therefore, California’s IT Strategic Plan needed to be developed in the context of the business priorities of state agencies, the new leadership vision, and the significant IT investments that have already occurred.  The IT Strategic Plan represents a partnership between the business functions of government and the technology activities that deliver on those business priorities.  Moreover, the IT Strategic Plan must meld new leadership with the community of professional IT leaders who have been supporting government programs with technology solutions for many years.  Technology leadership in California is shared among the State CIO, Agency Information Officers and departmental CIOs.  The IT Strategic Plan that follows is the product of their collective guidance.

This IT Strategic Plan is presented in three books.  Book 1 discusses organization and governance of technology in the state, Book 2 acknowledges the accomplishments of California’s IT community and Book 3 lays out strategic concepts for building successful IT programs in California over the next decade.  It tells the story of who we are and where we are going.

We gratefully acknowledge the IT leaders of California, listed below, for their significant contributions to this plan and to the information technology programs of California.

Team #1	Team #3	Team #5
Dale Jablonsky, EDD Alan Criswell, DTS Elbert Lawrence, CDCR Wes Major, DOF Richard Gillihan, DOF	Davood Ghods, CDFA Chris Cruz, CDFA Diana Fong, DFI Sue Plantz, OES Dane Wilson, DTS Mark Weatherford, OISPP Stephanie Clendenin, OSHPD	Michael Liang, BTH
Team #2	Team #4	Team #6
Crystal Cooper, OSI Mike Nguyen, DHCS Debra Gonzales, DCA Terry Coyle, CDVA Bob Ferguson, CDPH Andrew Armani, SCSA	John Ellison, Resources Jon Kirkham, OTS Bob Ferguson, CDPH Mark Laybourn, DFEH Lina Luna-Pruitt, VCGCB Tom Lupo, CDFG Quinn Hart, UCD David Harris, NRA/CERES Michael Byrne, CDPH Christine McCaleb, DHCD Gigi Smith, ADP Rita Gass, CCC Shell Culp, DTSC Bill Maile, OCIO	Gary Arstein-Kerslake, CalEPA Joe Panora, CDCR Tim Garza, DWR Sheri Hofer, DOJ Barbara Garrett, DMHC Joan Obert, DCSS JoAnne Payan, CDPR Nabil Fares, CDPH Russ Guarna, OCIO