text: Executive suite: Putting the Clinger-Cohen Act in perspective -- GCN
  Mantra of 'improved operations, reduced costs' brought a decade of real reform to federal IT
  It's been nearly a decade since Rep. William Clinger (R-Pa.) and Sen. William Cohen (R-Maine) put the finishing touches on the landmark legislation, the Information Technology Management Reform Act. Better known now as the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996, this legislation dramatically changed the strategy and governance of federal IT.
  There are many reasons to applaud the CCA. First and foremost, Clinger-Cohen changed how agencies regarded IT. Instead of viewing IT as a customized mix of technology specs and architectural spaghetti maps, the virtual bumper sticker of CCA, 'Improved Operations, Reduced Costs,' became the mantra for federal IT decisions.
  Now, federal agency heads ask, 'How is IT helping to improve the mission? What value am I getting for my IT investments?' Federal CIOs, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget and Congress, routinely review the acquisition of large-scale systems and provide accountability for IT investments.