Public Dashboard of Major Information Resources Projects
Texas Government Code
2054.159 (e) requires DIR to create a public dashboard tool to represent project performance indicators for all major information resources projects. We are pleased to provide you the link to the dashboard here. Data will be updated regularly and in the coming months additional data points will be added so please check back often. The landing page is an overvall summary of all projects, to see individual agency projects, please click on the Project Status tab near the top. Questions? Send us an email to projectdelivery@dir.texas.gov.
Project Delivery Framework
The Project Delivery Framework is designed for major, large-scale IT projects. Our templates are designed to help you capture all required information so that your project stays on track and outcomes are measurable.
Various steps and templates in the Project Delivery Framework require submission to the Quality Assurance Team (QAT).
Who is the QAT and why do I need their review?
The Quality Assurance Team (QAT) is comprised of individuals from four agencies: Legislative Budget Board (LBB), Department of Information Resources (DIR), Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA), and State Auditor’s Office (SAO). QAT is authorized to:
- Review projects before expenditure of appropriated funds, based on analysis of project risks
- Report the status of Major Information Resources Projects (MIRPs) to state leadership
- Determine the frequency of monitoring (monthly or quarterly)
- Review contract amendments if contract costs exceed 10 percent of current contract amount
- Request detailed project information, framework deliverable updates, audits, or assistance as necessary
- QAT publishes an
annual report every December highlighting lessons learned over the past year. These learnings can help agencies anticipate common pitfalls that are consistently leading to missed deadlines and project overruns.
Information
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TIMESAVING TIP: Think ahead when determining your budget. If an overage should cause a particular contract to exceed the current contract amount by 10% or more, you will be required to fill out a change order and submit to QAT. If cumulative overages cause you to exceed your current
total project costs (including contractor, hardware, software licenses, full-time equivalents, etc.) by more than 10%, you will be required to resubmit the Business Case and Business Case Workbook templates from
Step 1: Initiate and start over with reviews.
What is the LBB? What is an LAR?
LBB: The
Legislative Budget Board (LBB) is a permanent joint committee of the Texas Legislature that develops budget and policy recommendations for legislative appropriations, completes fiscal analyses for proposed legislation, and conducts evaluations and reviews to improve the efficiency and performance of state and local operations. Your Business Case must be approved at the agency level and submitted to QAT when the agency submits its LAR to the LBB.
LAR: The Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) is the bridge between an agency's strategic plan and the General Appropriations Act (GAA), providing a fiscal expression of each agency's priorities. It is the formal request for funding made by each state agency and institution. Your Business Case can be used to help you with the components of your LAR.
Please note: QAT reviews projects only after Biennial Operating Plans (BOPs) are submitted and approved by LBB. While QAT can review out-of-cycle projects within 30 days of a Business Case submission, there must be, however, an approved BOP or BOP Amendment on file with LBB.
Step 2: Plan
In
Step 2 you will:
- Finalize scope, budget, schedule, and project deliverables
-
Create a set of plans to guide your team through execution and project closure
The grid below contains two templates for
Step 2.
Two Required Templates for Step 2: Plan
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Step 3: Execute
The execution phase is typically the longest phase in the project lifecycle and consumes the most energy and resources. In Step 3 you will:
- Build the physical project deliverables
- Present them to the project sponsor for signoff
Here is the required template for
Step 3, as well as seven optional templates.
Required Template for Step 3: Execute
Contract Amendment and Change Order Approval
Statutory Reference
2054.307
If the Contract Amendment/Change is needed, it must be submitted to QAT |
Use this template to document any changes in scope or cost.
If an overage causes a particular contract to exceed the contract amount by 10% or more, you
must fill out a change order.
If cumulative overages cause you to exceed your current
total project costs (including contractor, hardware, software licenses, full-time equivalents, etc.) by more than 10%, you must resubmit your Business Case template from
Step 1: Initiate and start over with reviews. | Contract Amendment and Change Order Approval Instructions - PDF (80 KB)
Contract Amendment and Change Order Approval Template - DOC (317 KB) |
Seven Optional Templates for Step 3: Execute
Although these templates are not required, they provide best practices. They will be very helpful as you conduct useful testing and document your test cases.
| System Requirements Specifications 1.2 | Is used to capture a collection of information that describes what the system is expected to do, the system’s expected environment, the system’s usage profile, its performance parameters, and its expected quality and effectiveness. |
System Requirements Specifications Instructions - PDF (180 KB)
System Requirements Specifications Template - DOC (186 KB) |
| Requirements Traceability Matrix 1.0 | Assures that every requirement has been addressed in the design and that every design element addresses a requirement. Also provides the necessary traceability for integration, acceptance, regression, and performance testing. | Requirements Traceability Matrix Instructions - PDF, see Section 5 (180 KB)
Requirements Traceability Matrix Template - DOC (57 KB) |
| System Design Description 1.2 | Documents the design of the system being developed, its specified system requirements and the basis for its implementation. |
System Design Description Instructions- PDF (261 KB)
System Design Description Template - DOC (199 KB) |
| Data Dictionary Table 1.0 | Captures a description of each element in the system including the entity name and various details about each data element. | Data Dictionary Table Instructions - PDF, Section 3 (261 KB)
Data Dictionary Table Template - DOC (58 KB) |
| Screen/Other User Interface Fields Table 1.0 | Captures information for each field on each window/screen or any other user interface. | Screen/Other User Interface Fields Table Instructions - PDF, Section 6 (261 KB)
Screen/Other User Interface Fields Table Template - DOC (58 KB) |
| Test Plan 1.2 | Documents the testing process for the system being developed. | Test Plan Instructions - PDF (130 KB)
Test Plan Template - DOC (163 KB) |
| Test Scenario 1.3 | Specifies the test procedures for the system being developed. | Test Scenario Instructions - PDF (156 KB)
Test Scenario Template - DOC (203 KB) |
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Step 4: Monitor & Control
Step 4 is an ongoing phase that allows you to: 
-
Track, review, and regulate the progress and performance of your project
Once you start executing your project, the required Monitoring Report template will function as a status report. It is to be delivered to QAT on a schedule that QAT will determine (i.e., bi-monthly, quarterly, etc.).
Required Template for Step 4: Monitor & Control
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Step 5: Closing
What went right? What went wrong? Too often we tend to finish a project and move on to the next one without taking the time to capture valuable lessons learned or to document ways we could improve the process for future projects.
Step 5 is the time to determine:
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Did we achieve the benefits we projected in our Business Case?
-
Are we saving money as a result?
Here is the template required for
Step 5: Closing. It will allow you to measure success against the original Business Case submitted in
Step 1: Initiate.
Required Template for Step 5: Closing
Information
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Have Questions?
For more information about the Project Delivery Framework, contact
projectdelivery@dir.texas.gov.
We Value Your Feedback
If you have suggestions that could make the framework templates more helpful, please visit the
Framework Change Advisory Process page.