Technology Business Management (TBM) has provided the General Services Administration (GSA) with a robust methodology for aligning technology investments to business priorities. By shifting their focus to outcomes and the "whys" behind making IT decisions, as well as fully appreciating the full cost of near- and long-term initiatives, GSA has increased user satisfaction while reducing total spending for several years running. 

GSA CIO David Shive dropped by FedScoop's studio this week to discuss digital transformation and IT modernization at the GSA and across the Federal government. Having served in the role for over five years now – a term that FedScoop observes is impressively long – Shike has acquired some rare and hard-won perspective about IT, change management, procurement and risk. We think his takes on Technology Business Management, keeping the IT cart behind the horse of necessity and results, and the value of streamlining and simplifying IT are spot-on.

If you missed the interview, catch it here: FedScoop Radio: Let's Talk About IT.

Other Takeaways:

GSA is just the right size to be agile in choosing projects and initiatives to take some risks with. When something works out, GSA is in a great position to pass on the good news and recommend that a similar approach be scaled up for larger agencies – such as Commerce or DHS.

Shrike and his colleagues' have made it a priority to regularly examine and evaluate current and upcoming IT needs while monitoring how well their internal technologists' skills line up with probable initiatives and challenges. Where there's a mismatch, they actively set up training and professional development opportunities and opportunities for their teams to get some practical hands-on experience with those new skills before the training can get stale. 

Shrike's efforts to transform and improve federal IT, modernize the GSA's legacy systems, focus on business results, and ensure transparency for the true costs of various platforms and initiatives have paid off. As he told GovLoop earlier this year, “My budget over the last five years has shrunk by 17.8 percent occurring annually. The employee satisfaction [score] for use of technology has gone up 20 percent in that same time. So we’re spending dramatically less money and obtaining better outcomes.” 

That's good IT.