We noted that architectures are in support of the Business Units. Bureaus and agencies must be allowed to define their own Business Units. We should 'soften the blow' as much as possible and not make this appear as a mandate. However, if OMB comes to the Department and asks about the Department IT Architecture, just telling them that 'we told the Bureaus to do it and left them with flexibility and freedom' may not suffice. There needs to be an appropriate architecture at the Department level.
Hierarchy is important.
Next we briefly addressed a recommendation that architecture development tracking be performed as part of the Strategic and Operational Plan efforts. Also, the IT Review Board could play a role. Department resources, rather than have this be interpreted as another mandated, regulatory effort. A discussion took place on the order of recommendations. After some discussion, we'll keep them as one list for now.