“Any major program, project, or transformation involving information technology (IT) brings great potential for positive change and benefits, but also risks that the program will not produce the outcomes envisioned. Such risks can be introduced due to political pressures, interagency coordination, integration with legacy systems, multiple contractors, new software development, requirements creep, or unexpected events. ACT-IAC, an association of leaders in government and industry with significant experience in IT acquisition and management, has drawn upon many lessons learned and formulated an initial set of critical success factors for major IT programs. These factors broaden the focus from IT oversight to overall program management that accounts for policy and political realities. In this model, IT is a strategic centerpiece of any transformation toward the goal of better government. Over the past several months, ACT-IAC has joined a number of stakeholder groups in a dialogue with OMB and Administration leaders regarding how best to improve the government’s capacity to manage IT programs effectively. ACT-IAC recommends the “7-S for Success” Framework as a basis for the path forward, addressing the key success factors described below. Applying the Framework to a major IT program review should reduce risk and increase the likelihood of positive outcomes. This Framework does not constitute a checklist for compliance purposes. Rather, it represents a management approach for large transformations, in which each “S” represents a key area of focus but all of the “S’s” enhance the potential for delivering successful results. These factors should form the basis for an honest assessment by, and ongoing conversation among, program leadership and stakeholders regarding the health of the program. Such an assessment and conversation is reinforced by the fact that how these leaders and organizations manage change as programs evolve, and support teams and individuals address needed change in a positive way, is a key element of success across the entire Framework.”