Federal Manager's Daily Report

Federal CIOs reported difficulty achieving meaningful collaboration with other managers. Image: Radachynskyi Serhii/Shutterstock.com

The GAO has recommended strengthening the role of agency chief information officers, including by changing the law to require agencies have such positions and to define their roles, after finding that federal CIOs have less authority in some ways than those of the private sector.

In a survey of private sector CIOs to which 71 fully responded, and in interviews with former federal CIOs, the GAO found that the roles largely line up across IT management areas. But it said that while the private sector CIOs stressed the importance of collaboration between that office and other senior management, the former federal CIOs “reported difficulty achieving meaningful collaboration with other managers.”

“In addition, private sector panelists stated that their companies often look for managerial skills, such as project management skills, when hiring CIOs. By contrast, former agency CIO panelists stated that technical skills are often a primary driver in the selection of agency CIOs. Fostering shared collaboration and increasing focus on managerial skillsets for agency CIOs could assist federal agencies and their CIOs in securing resources and implementing IT priorities,” it said.

The GAO noted that the position of agency CIO is based in the authorities “established in 2002 for the OMB position from which the role was established. As such, its responsibilities are often more limited in key CIO management areas than those of the other types of CIOs.”

“For example, the federal CIO is not responsible for ensuring that cybersecurity duties are carried out. By formalizing the federal CIO position and establishing responsibilities and authorities over government-wide IT management, the position’s impact over federal IT may be more consistent over time and across administrations,” it said.

Clock Is Ticking Down on Renewing Agency Funding

After House Votes to Block another Schedule F, Focus Turns to Senate

House Expands Scope of Whistleblower Protection Bill

Continue Allowing Telework with Dependents in the Home, DoD Unions Urge

House Panel Seeks Information on Threats to Federal Workers

Bill Would Greatly Widen Eligibility for VA Employee Education Benefit, Says CBO

Slight Decline for 2023 COLA Count Through August

DHS Announces Hiring Surge for Customer Experience Initiative

First Steps Taken Toward Benefits Open Season

See also,

Survivors Benefits in Federal Retirement

With FERS Annuity Indexed for Inflation, Fed Retirees Faring Better

Exceptions to the 10 Percent Early Withdrawal Penalty

Your FERS Annuity is Worth More Than You Think

FERS Retirement Guide 2022