Information is vital to the operation of state government. All state agencies depend on electronically generated data to accomplish their basic functions. Information is among the most valuable assets that state agencies have at their daily disposal. It is the basis for decision making, justification of resources, determination of benefits, as well as a variety of other routine government operations.
Information is expensive to create and maintain.
At that time, over 1,400 State employees were directly involved in the delivery of technology. The report also noted that most other state employees were dependent upon information technology in some way to carry out their responsibilities. In addition to the technology itself, other components of information management, i.e. data input, data maintenance, storage, data distribution, etc., add significantly to the costs associated with the production of information. Especially in times of limited resources, state agencies need to manage their information resources to achieve the greatest benefit possible. Information has value to the State.