Federal Enterprise Architecture and Information Technology Management: A Brief Overview

RS22194 -- Federal Enterprise Architecture and Information Technology Management: A Brief Overview

Updated July 15, 2005

Summary

Congressional policymakers are concerned about potential inefficiencies and inefficacies in the operation of the federal government, particularly as it relates to decisions regarding information technology (IT) investments. These concerns have increased as federal IT spending has grown to more than $60 billion annually. One approach being implemented to address this issue is the use of enterprise architecture (EA) planning across the federal government. An EA serves as a blueprint of the business operations of an organization, and the information and technology needed to carry out these functions. As an information technology management and planning tool, EA planning represents a business-driven approach to information technology management that emphasizes interoperability and information sharing. The Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) was started in 2002 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and continues to be developed today. The FEA is composed of five reference models; Performance, Business, Service, Data, and Technical. Each of the reference models represent specific aspects of the FEA and provide a "common language" for departments and agencies to use in developing common technology solutions. Some of the congressional oversight issues related to the FEA include, but are not limited to, ongoing updates of the reference models, progress in aligning the EAs of individual departments with the FEA, and the role of the FEA in developing a second generation of e-government initiatives. This report will be updated as events warrant.