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APPENDIX A WORK STATEMENT PHASE I In Phase lithe committee will evaluate the status of the Systems Modernization Plan and assess the Agency Strategic Plan for the year 2000. The committee will perform the following tasks during Phase I: Review the current status of the SSA's information systems facilities. This review should establish a baseline for subsequent committee tasks and include the existing hardware and software architecture, technical personnel resources, and financial and physical resources. Early attention should be given to (1) the capability of SSA's physical and software infrastructure to accommodate present and future communication loads and (2) structural changes (e.g., distribution of functions) and fault corrections (e.g., replacing inadequate software) that may promptly improve operations and performance. ~- 4. Examine the three Chases (survival. transition. and state of the art) of the SSA's current modernization program. This examination should review the results of the completed survival phase, assess the status of the transition phase, and identify the remaining work to move to the state-of-the-art phase. The examination should also define the additional work needed to attain a state-of-the-art environment that supports the ASP. Review the software engineering methods being used at the SSA. This review should assess the adequacy of the software engineering methods and their level of use throughout the development life cycles. The review should identify the work required to complete the analysis and definition of SSA's information and data requirements for current and future SSA operations. The review should also embrace the approach and status of the information flow and data analysis methods employed. Review the SSA's statement of Systems Modernization Plan requirements. This effort should evaluate the adequacy of the current information architecture and database strategy to meet those requirements in light of current technology trends. This work should also identify attractive alternative information and database architectures. 57
58 Assess the Agency Strategic Plan. This assessment should review the overall planning approach and evaluate the plan in terms of SSA's mission, goals, and objectives. The assessment should also evaluate the ASP,s proposes' initiatives, its implementation strategy, and the coherence of the 2-year and 5-year detailed plans with the overall ASP and each other. The committee should recommend ways that the SSA may improve its overall planning approach and initiatives. PHASE II In Phase TI, the committee will evaluate the technical and technical management environment in which the implementation of the Systems Modernization Plan and Agency Strategic Plan is being, and will be, performed and recommenct the approaches needed to complete the Systems Modernization Plan in 1990 and to implement the Agency Strategic Plan by the year 2000. The committee shall perform the following tasks during Phase II: Assess SSA's technical organization and management environment in which the Systems Modernization Plan is being implemented. This assessment should embrace adequacy of the integration management methods being used throughout the project development life cycle, the adequacy and experience (e.g., number, mix, and skills) of the technical managers and specialists required by the Sow and ASP projects, and recommend improvements through which technical workforce may better meet current and future demands. 2. Evaluate SSAts methods for maintaining a modern technical knowledge environment. This evaluation should review the adequacy of the SSA,s technology training methods and other upgrades available to its employees from the entry level to senior management. This evaluation should also review the way SSA tracks and disseminates technology trends and should identify the methods and resources needed to develop and maintain a current knowledge of technology with SSA. This task should also help define an effective environment for prototype testing and evaluation of innovative technical systems and procedures. 3. Estimate the adequacy of current DIannina and imDlementation to introduce methods of assessing the impact of technology on SSA's service recipients and employees. 4. Recommend methods to improve systems integration management at the Droject. program. operations. and headquarters levels within SSA.
