This paper trouble shoots the Information System design of the FBI Virtual Case File. In September 2000, the FBI announced an Information Technology Upgrade Project (Trilogy Program). It includes three parts: The Information Presentation Component, the Transportation Network Component and the User Applications Component. The first two goals are generally successful. The third one which ultimately became the Virtual Case File project is an enormous failure. It was originally intended to be little more than a web front-end to the existing Automated Case Support system data. After the attack on the 11th of September in 2001, the FBI was under great pressure to modernize. They changed the goal of the project to replace the whole ACS system. However, the project was officially abandoned in April 2005, while still in development stage and cost the federal government nearly $170 million. The VCF's contractor, Science Applications International Corp. shares the blame for the project's failure. Analysis of this project’s failure and recommendations such as applying an agile software development strategy, better change and communication management, and a greater cooperation of all people involved will be given.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the United States’ prime domestic federal law enforcement agency as well as the government’s largest counterterrorism and counterintelligence agency in American soil. It is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Justice and a full member of the U.S. Intelligence Community. The FBI is headquartered at the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, D.C. It has 56 field offices centrally located in major cities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Within these field offices are a total of about 380 resident agencies located in smaller cities and towns. Its global offices—called legal attachés or legats—are located in U.S. embassies. For fiscal year 2017, FBI has requested a budget which includes a total of $8.7 billion for salaries and expenses of 34,768 positions (12,892 special agents, 2,999 intelligence analysts, and 18,877 professional staff), and $783.5 million for construction.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Problem statement
- Analysis of failure
- Analysis of the Causes leading to the Failure
- Recommendation
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the failure of the FBI's Virtual Case File (VCF) project, a modernization effort aimed at upgrading the bureau's outdated information technology infrastructure. The paper analyzes the causes behind the project's failure, including the complexities of implementing such a large-scale system within a government organization. It also explores the broader systemic effects of information systems within organizations and offers recommendations for improving future implementations.
- The impact of information systems on organizational efficiency and effectiveness
- The challenges of implementing large-scale information technology projects within government agencies
- The role of communication, change management, and stakeholder collaboration in project success
- The importance of agile software development methodologies for managing complex projects
- The impact of external events and pressures on information technology projects
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the Virtual Case File (VCF) project, its objectives, and its ultimate failure. It also introduces the broader context of information systems within organizations and the challenges associated with their implementation.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation: This chapter outlines the structure, mission, and key priorities of the FBI as a context for understanding the VCF project. It highlights the agency's role in domestic and international law enforcement and its reliance on information technology to fulfill its objectives.
- Problem statement: This chapter details the problems faced by the FBI with its existing information management system, the Automated Case Support (ASC) system. It highlights the limitations of the system and its impact on the agency's efficiency and effectiveness.
- Analysis of failure: This chapter analyzes the reasons behind the failure of the VCF project. It explores the factors that contributed to its ultimate abandonment, including challenges in project management, stakeholder buy-in, and technological complexities.
- Analysis of the Causes leading to the Failure: This chapter delves deeper into the specific causes of the VCF project's failure, examining issues such as inadequate planning, lack of clear communication, and ineffective change management.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key focus areas of this paper include information system failures, organizational change management, agile software development, government IT projects, and the FBI's Virtual Case File (VCF) project. The paper analyzes the systemic effects of information systems within organizations and provides recommendations for improving the implementation and management of complex IT projects in the future. This analysis considers the specific context of the FBI and its operational challenges in the context of modern law enforcement.
- Quote paper
- Jan Kachelmaier (Author), 2016, Systemic Effects of Information Systems. Analysis of FBI's Virtual Case File Failure, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/369737
