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Information Resources Manager (IRM) Overview
Welcome to the Information Resources Manager (IRM) page.
This site is intended to provide IRMs with a snapshot view
of their roles and responsibilities from a state perspective.
It covers common questions asked by IRMs seeking to understand
the duties and activities they must accomplish. If you have
any questions about the information presented here, please
contact DIR.
1. What is an IRM?
2. What are the
IRM responsibilities?
3. What are
the IRM skills and education requirements?
4. What is DIR's
role?
5. Timeline of
events
6. What
are some resources to help me with my job?
1. What is an IRM?
The IRM position was created by the Legislature in the Information
Resources Management Act (IRMA) (TEX.GOV'T CODE § 2054). The
Act contains guidance about IRM activities and duties. The
Texas Administrative Code (TAC) established supplemental rules
for IRM's (TAC, Tile 1, Part 10, Ch 201§201.3).
The Information Resources Manager oversees the acquisition
and use of information technology within a state agency or
university. IRMs must be part of the agency's executive management
and report directly to a person with a title functionally
equivalent to executive director or deputy executive director
(TEX. GOV'T CODE 2054.075(b)).
If an agency does not designate an IRM, the role defaults
to the agency's Executive Director, making the Executive Director
responsible for executing the duties and requirements (including
continuing education) of an IRM.
2. What are the
roles of an IRM?
Internal Roles:
Job descriptions and duties are determined by the individual
agencies and universities; however, the IRM would generally
be responsible for items such as the following:
- Planning Information Resources (IR) investments, operations,
and support
- Managing IR human, technological, and financial resources
- Organizing agency information resources for efficient
and effective services
- Reporting on the IR investment and benefits to executive
management, DIR, the Legislature and the Legislative Budget
Board
In addition, the basic responsibilities of an IRM should
be to:
- Manage daily IR operations
- Maintain audit ability of automated systems and technologies
- Oversee management of major IR projects from inception
through implementation
- Adopt and execute IR standards, policies, practices,
and procedures that address
- Strategic Planning
- Mission Critical Information
- Business/Technology Performance Metrics and Performance
Monitoring
- Annual Assessment of Selected IR Activities
- Risk Management
- Standards Review and Recommendations Publications
(SRRPUB) Guidelines
- Web Rules
- Data Ownership
- Network Resources Control
- Disaster Recovery and Contingency Planning
- Geographic Information Systems
- Public Information Requests
- Digital Signatures
- Security, including incident reporting due on the
5th of every month
- Procurement Practices
- Process Improvement
- Staffing, Including Performance Management/Improvement
and Training
- Leverage IR to Meet Business Needs
- Disseminate IR Data and Knowledge
- Promote Utilization of IR Resources Internally and Externally
- Communicate with Agency Stakeholders to Exchange Appropriate
Information
- Ensure Agency Web Presence
External planning
and reporting requirements:
As an IRM, your external responsibilities include:
- The Biennial Operating Plan (BOP): IRMs are responsible for preparing the BOPs and obtaining approval of the BOPs from the LBB. BOPs are required by the Information Resources Management Act and describe the technology expenditures and significant information resources projects for the agency or university, covering a six-year period. Additionally, agencies are required to utilize technology training coordinated by DIR or offered via the Service Delivery master contracts if the training meets agency requirements and is cost-competitive.
- The Information Resources Strategic Plan (IRSP): Agencies are required by the Information Resources Management Act to submit IRSPs to DIR. The IRSP provides an overview of the agency's technology plans and how their technology plans support the agency strategic plan and agency goals as well as the State Strategic Plan for Information Resources Management. Agencies and universities can be mandated to include certain elements, such as adherence to a policy or guideline, in their IRSP. Information on current requirements can be found in the IRSP instructions published by DIR. The IRSP is submitted to DIR electronically in August of even numbered years.
- Security Incident Reporting System (SIRS): TAC 202.7 (f)(3) Requires that each agency provide summary reports to the department that contain information concerning violations of security policy of which the agency has become aware. An agency shall not be required to report security incidents unless it reasonably believes such incidents may involve criminal activity under Texas Penal Code Chapters 33 (Computer Crimes) or 33A (Telecommunications Crimes).
- Adherence to legislative mandates. Sources for information include IRMA, the General Appropriations Act, and session laws. DIR also establishes information technology rules (TAC 201) and standards.
Some of the current legislation includes:
- The Quality Assurance Team (QAT): The QAT reviews major IR projects and provides a report to the legislature on these projects by December 1 of odd-numbered years. The QAT must also approve amendments to contracts for the development of major IR projects when the amendment constitutes a 10% or greater change to the original contract value. See article 9, section 6.19 of the Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR), 77TH Leg.
- The West Texas Disaster Recovery and Operations Center (WTDROC): It is the intent of the legislature that agencies and institutions of higher education utilize the WTDROC for testing disaster recovery plans, for disaster recovery services, and for data center operations. Funds cannot be spent on other services unless a waiver is approved by the LBB. See article 9, section 6.20, LAR, 77th Leg
3. What are
the skills and educational requirements for an IRM?
Preferred skills:
- A working knowledge of the IR technical environment and
standards of the agency/university and the state, including
telecommunications;
- IR contract administration and management, preferably
extensive multi-vendor oversight and negotiation experience;
- A working knowledge of IR legislative requirements for
state government;
- Demonstrated skills in decision-making, project management,
and IR personnel management;
- IR strategic and operational planning and knowledge of
the state of IR technology
- Managerial skills including leadership, communications,
supervision of technical staff, risk management, approval
of information resource planning, and vendor-customer-client
relations.
Initial Education Requirement:
An IRM should hold a degree from an accredited four-year
college or university, preferably with major coursework in
information systems, computer science, data processing, business,
or a related field.
Continuing Education Requirements:
Continuing education for IRMs supports skilled IR management.
DIR establishes guidelines
for state agencies regarding continuing education (TEX. GOV'T
CODE §2054.076). The guidelines are designed to assist
IRMs as they select and pursue professional development opportunities.
Adherence to the guidelines is mandatory.
- The guidelines are based on the premise that IRMs should
strive for proficiency in key IRM competency areas that
will enable them to increase expertise in the use and management
of Information Resources. These are identified as a comprehensive
list of core competencies for IRMs.
- IRMs are divided into five levels, based on the biennial
IR budget. Each IRM must complete the obligations stated
for his/her level.
- To comply with the guidelines, each IRM must:
- Attend a minimum number of hours of qualified training/education
each fiscal year
- Complete a one-time set of required topics within
two years
- Report completion of educational events via an online
form
4. What is DIR's
role?
DIR has 5 divisions, Executive, Security, Service Delivery,
Strategic Initiatives, and Telecommunications Services.
Executive
The Executive division provides the strategic vision for
Texas Government Information Technology.
This division includes the State Chief Technology Officer,
the Public Information Officer, the Chief Financial Officer,
Intergovernmental Relations, and the General Counsel.
Security
The Security division works with state government entities
to assess and implement statewide online security.
This division is involved in the oversight of statewide
security initiatives and offers security-related technical
assistance to Texas government entities.
Service Delivery
The Service Delivery division implements IT initiatives
for statewide customers and provides internal administrative
and technical support for DIR staff.
Service Delivery assists state agencies and political subdivisions
in the most cost-effective acquisition of their information
resources by negotiating, managing, and administering contracts
with major information technology providers.
Strategic Initiatives
The Strategic Initiatives division provides the strategic
and policy direction for implementation and management of
technology in the state.
Telecommunications Division
The Telecommunications division is a service bureau providing
state agencies two primary telecommunications services: the
Capitol Complex Telephone System (CCTS), a centralized telephone
service for all agencies in the Capitol Complex area; and
TEX-AN 2000, the statewide telecommunications network. The
division is also permitted to serve political subdivisions,
which include cities, counties, municipalities, and K-12
independent school districts.
More information about DIR's structure is available
on the
Division Descriptions page.
5. Timeline of Events
The timeline for required reports for the Biennial Planning
and Budget Cycle is represented in a textual format.
Schedule of Events (33
Kb, Word, Viewer)
6. What are some
resources to help?
DIR maintains a online resources
to assist IRMs. The resources include:
- Access to all DIR publications, DIR rules, and IRMA
- Links to the BOP instructions, IRSP instructions, and
Continuing Education Requirements guidelines
- Access to mandates and other requirements related to IR
- Links to topical resources
- Listing of interagency and other working groups on various
technology topics that provide a pool of expertise
- A listing of personnel contacts, including agency/university
LBB IR analysts and current designated IRMs
- TexasOnline
- Security Web site -- resources on security threats and
issues along with policy templates and other related topics
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