Michigan Unites Information Technology Resources

Michigan Gov. John Engler has signed an executive order mandating consolidation of information technology resources and functions into a single department led by a cabinet-level chief information officer.

The new Department of Information Technology will be responsible for establishing long-term strategy for IT that makes optimum use of resources and improves service to citizens, said the governor's office Aug. 9.

The new department is expected to have about 1,800 employees who will be transferred from other state agencies, including the Office of Information Technology Solutions housed in the Department of Management and Budget.

The technology mandate affects software application development and maintenance; management and support of desktop computers, mainframes and servers; IT contract, project and procurement management; IT planning and budget management; and telecommunication services, security, infrastructure and support.

Engler and his staff realized that state IT resources could be used more efficiently if they were consolidated into one department, while coordinating the launch of the state's Web portal with various state agencies, said Matt Resch, a spokesman for the governor.

Working on the portal with the agencies confirmed the existing structure wasn't the most efficient system, he said

The Michigan announcement raises to 26 the number of states with CIOs that report directly to the governor, according to the National Association of State Chief Information Officers of Lexington, Ky. The rest report either to a staff, legislative or cabinet-level officer.