The Fbi?
Introduction and background of the case
As a part of the FBI 's $581 million "Trilogy" program, the Virtual Case File (VCF) was a software application that intended to facilitate the case file management for FBI agents. VCF faced a vast array of trouble, finally convincing the Bureau to abandon the VCF project after years of development imposing $170 on US taxpayers.
VCF would have been a huge step in the improvement of the paper-intensive and outdated IT infrastructure for the FBI. VCF was designed to integrate modern desktop computers for in FBI offices: VCF 's goal was to develop a secure high-performance network and to provide a modern database for storing case information, allowing agents to manage and share data electronically. The Bureau announced its development of a new, more ambitious software project, code-named "Sentinel", to replace the outdated case file management VCF. A timeline of the project is attached in the appendix.
This case report discusses reasons why VCF failed. The second chapter analyzes connections between the Information System Strategy and the FBI organization, while the third chapter discusses the CIO 's final comment about how to change the attitude of FBI agents towards more recent types of technology. The last chapter is concerned with the FBI 's options of integrating modern technology. This case report ends with a summary and a final conclusion.
2. Discussion of the FBI case
2.1. Reasons why the VCF System failed
According to Holmes, reasons for the failure of the VCF are most importantly related to issues of control, culture and incompatible organizational systems.
We know from the Information Systems Strategy Triangle that business-, IS- and organizational strategy must be related to each other. With the VCF system, the FBI introduced a new IS strategy. Did the FBI adapt their business and organizational strategy to this change in IS strategy?
Although FBI agents are located in the US and around the globe,
As a part of the FBI 's $581 million "Trilogy" program, the Virtual Case File (VCF) was a software application that intended to facilitate the case file management for FBI agents. VCF faced a vast array of trouble, finally convincing the Bureau to abandon the VCF project after years of development imposing $170 on US taxpayers.
VCF would have been a huge step in the improvement of the paper-intensive and outdated IT infrastructure for the FBI. VCF was designed to integrate modern desktop computers for in FBI offices: VCF 's goal was to develop a secure high-performance network and to provide a modern database for storing case information, allowing agents to manage and share data electronically. The Bureau announced its development of a new, more ambitious software project, code-named "Sentinel", to replace the outdated case file management VCF. A timeline of the project is attached in the appendix.
This case report discusses reasons why VCF failed. The second chapter analyzes connections between the Information System Strategy and the FBI organization, while the third chapter discusses the CIO 's final comment about how to change the attitude of FBI agents towards more recent types of technology. The last chapter is concerned with the FBI 's options of integrating modern technology. This case report ends with a summary and a final conclusion.
2. Discussion of the FBI case
2.1. Reasons why the VCF System failed
According to Holmes, reasons for the failure of the VCF are most importantly related to issues of control, culture and incompatible organizational systems.
We know from the Information Systems Strategy Triangle that business-, IS- and organizational strategy must be related to each other. With the VCF system, the FBI introduced a new IS strategy. Did the FBI adapt their business and organizational strategy to this change in IS strategy?
Although FBI agents are located in the US and around the globe,