The Quality Assurance Team (QAT) 2016 Annual Report, which monitors major information resources projects at Texas state agencies, has been published. From December 2015 to November 2016, the state’s technology project portfolio included 76 major information resources projects totaling $1.4 billion.
Spotlight on Facts and Findings
- From December 2015 to November 2016, the state’s technology project portfolio included 76 major information resources projects totaling $1.4 billion in estimated costs. Thirty-seven of these projects were approved and were scheduled to begin on or after September 1, 2015.
- The state’s technology project portfolio’s total estimated project costs have remained constant since last year’s annual report. However, the current portfolio includes 15 fewer projects than those in last year’s report.
- Eight projects were canceled since last year’s annual report.
- Agencies do not always budget sufficient time for identifying project requirements, completing procurement activities, and conducting user-acceptance testing when establishing project milestones.
- Projects with a shorter development schedule (less than 28 months) are meeting their initial cost and duration estimates at a higher rate relative to projects with longer durations.
- Some agencies are engaging with independent verification and validation and quality control vendors to verify and assess project results. These additional oversight mechanisms sometimes are required as a condition of federal funding; but sometimes agencies have opted to use these mechanisms to help mitigate project risk.
- Thirteen projects were reported to be complete or near completion as of November 2016.