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FBI Case

The VCF system failed for two main reasons: 1) The FBI culture was not accustomed to sharing information, even within departments, and 2) agents found the software difficult to use compared to their usual paper-based methods. There was some alignment between the IT strategy and FBI organization, such as replacing paper processes with electronic systems and improving information access. However, misalignments included the decentralized structure, lack of information sharing culture, and reliance on paper records. The CIO's approach of letting agents see how technology can automate and improve their work may eventually change attitudes, but it will take time as changing culture is not quick. Agents must be trained on the new system and understand how it can benefit their work

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Chandan Bharti
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491 views2 pages

FBI Case

The VCF system failed for two main reasons: 1) The FBI culture was not accustomed to sharing information, even within departments, and 2) agents found the software difficult to use compared to their usual paper-based methods. There was some alignment between the IT strategy and FBI organization, such as replacing paper processes with electronic systems and improving information access. However, misalignments included the decentralized structure, lack of information sharing culture, and reliance on paper records. The CIO's approach of letting agents see how technology can automate and improve their work may eventually change attitudes, but it will take time as changing culture is not quick. Agents must be trained on the new system and understand how it can benefit their work

Uploaded by

Chandan Bharti
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Case: FBI

1. What do you think were the real reasons why the VCF system failed?
In my opinion, there could be two real reasons why VCF failed.
a) Culture & attitude: BI had a culture that people were accustomed to hold things secret
and not to share with anyone even within department. Sharing information was never
standard operating procedure in FBI. This led agents not to update their information on
the system as they wanted to keep their work privately with them
b) Competency & easiness of use: There could be possibility that the people were not
finding it easy to use the software as they have been using paper-pen for all purposes and
putting those information on electronic might have scared them.

2. What were the points of alignment and misalignment between the Information Systems
Strategy and the FBI organization?
Alignment:
1. Even after scraping VCF, CIO was still working on it with new approach on a new case
management system based on enterprise architecture.
2. IT budget control was taken away from District to the CIO
3. Intentions of the VCF system was to provide an “electronic means for agents to globally send
field notes, documents, pieces of intelligence and other evidence so they could hopefully act
faster on leads.”
4. Replace paper intensive process with and electronic web based system

Misalignment:
1. The organization was decentralized, and agents were working in silos
2. FBI didn’t have culture of sharing information
3. Most of the information was on paper and agents were accustomed with paper-pen ways of
working

3. What do you think of the CIO’s final comment about how to change attitudes? Do you
think it will work? Why or why not?
Regarding the final comment from CIO, in my opinion it might take some time to change attitute
but it will work. In his last statement he suggests letting agents to see that how technology can
automate their manual work and improve their productivity. Once agents see their work getting
easy in all aspects, whether to upload their work in the system or fetch information for their cases,
with use of information system they are able to work more effectively, they might change their
attitude.

Once they see that there is a access control in the system and not every thing is visible to
everyone, their trust on the system will improve. But, changing attitude is not a one-day task, they
must be trained in using the system and being aware of feature and ways to use the system

4. If you were the CIO, what would you do to help the FBI modernize and make better use of
information technology?
I’ll have following suggestion for CIO for better use of information technology
1. Make enterprise architecture design and development a top priority
2. Work to change organization culture aligned with information system and set expected
behavior from agents
3. Take input from other intelligence agency when developing new case management software
4. Train and grow internal expertise in IT competency

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