Leadership Modernization Action Plan (LMAP)The Leadership Modernization Action Plan (LMAP) is the approach by which the FDA’s Office of Digital Transformation (ODT) seeks to evolve the role of the CIO and technology leaders into empowered business leaders by developing and operationalizing modern leadership and management principles necessary to drive innovation and change in support of the FDA’s critical public health mission.The future vision is an evolution of the CIO and technology leaders into empowered business leaders, first and foremost. In today’s digital world, all business activities are dependent on IT services. Engaged IT leaders can understand business operations from a unique vantage point. As change accelerates and data, security, and business agility become more salient, so does the role of technological leadership. Aligning IT strategy with business objectives ensures that our limited IT resources are focused on the right organizational priorities. The FDA’s IT leaders are strategic partners in tackling the agency’s most complex problems. They must now rise to the challenge of strengthening business value, shaping the FDA’s future, and driving lasting strategic impact.Office of Digital TransformationODT_1d88ecb0-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea00Food & Drug AdministrationFDA ODT LeadersODT is developing the next generation of brave leaders who will contribute to business strategy, offer their technical expertise, and exemplify leadership, communication, engagement, and collaboration principles. These leaders embody ODT’s values of accountability, empowerment, and effective execution. The ‘Future CIO’ is a change agent who translates technology potential into business strategy and weight and demonstrates creativity, empathy, and resiliency. By rethinking the traditional leadership paradigm, we are cultivating an organization that trains government leaders equipped to lead modernization and innovation under a unified, sustainable strategy. ^^ We refer to these leaders as “changemakers,” who understand how to shift roles and focus, upskill themselves and their colleagues, take measured risks, and improve our organizational outcomes. This new elevated, business-oriented role will help guide our agency through increasingly complex regulatory environment mandates as we implement change and modernize our services. Our people-centered and integrated approach will create an organizational environment where budget informs action and change is enduring. Modernization at the FDA is a continuous, long-term journey requiring adept change leaders at all levels. Organizational change and development are also incremental. Investing in leadership as a critical component of technology and business transformation will better prepare us to tackle the Agency’s most complex challenges. The leaders that will drive this work forward must be leaders who can break down barriers and eliminate silos – both structural and behavioral. With the TMAP, DMAP, EMAP, CMAP, and now LMAP, the FDA has a well-grounded framework to drive the modernization that will advance FDA’s public health mission.Evolution of the CIO and technology leaders into empowered business leaders_1d88ee72-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea00To enhance our leadership capabilities while strengthening the alignment between agency-wide strategic objectives, outcomes, and impacts_1d88efa8-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea00Public HealthInnovationStrategic AlignmentCreate an environment where business and IT programs are aligned and collaborate to achieve business priorities and leverage IT opportunities to enhance outcomes._1d88f0c0-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea001The Agency established the Office of Digital Transformation in September 2021 and directly elevated the CIO reporting structure to the FDA Commissioner to address these challenges.DataLeverage and secure FDA data_1d88f1c4-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea001.1The FDA is now advancing an enterprise IT, data, cybersecurity, and business process management approach that will allow us to better leverage and secure FDA data. Planning, governance, financial management, and workforce mobilization are at the core of these organizational changes. Senior executives are now engaging the FDA CIO and ODT’s Executive Leadership Team for more strategic discussions.Engagement & SynergiesEngage at the FDA’s Executive Committee level to ensure synergies with business leaders_86db73a0-e479-11ed-8263-f164f282ea001.2FDA Executive CommitteeFDA Business LeadersIt is imperative that ODT leaders continue to actively engage at the FDA’s Executive Committee level to ensure synergies with business leaders. As these relationships evolve, ODT leaders will translate business priorities and needs into IT requirements, and help ensure alignment with Center-level IT programs.Strategy & InvestmentsBridge the gap between organizational strategy and technology investments_86db75bc-e479-11ed-8263-f164f282ea001.3FDA Technology CouncilThe FDA Technology Council will serve as the governing body for effective distributed leadership across the organization’s IT and business ecosystem. The Technology Council will lay the foundation for establishing an IT Working Capital Fund for shared decision-making and resource investments.ODT will scale its Technology Business Management (TBM) framework agency-wide to bridge the gap between organizational strategy and technology investments. These changes will strengthen the FDA’s alignment with industry standards like Information Technology Infrastructure Library governance structures and processes.Leadership & Decision-MakingCreate the framework for inclusive leadership and transparent decision-making_86db76d4-e479-11ed-8263-f164f282ea001.4Together with our center partners, ODT will create the framework for inclusive leadership and transparent decision-making. IT StrategyDevelop and operationalize an IT strategy that is reflective of business needs._1d88f2c8-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea002Structure & FunctionsEnable more effective enterprise IT strategic planning, collaborative governance, and decision-making_1d88f3ea-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea002.1ODT will adapt its structure and functions to enable more effective enterprise IT strategic planning, collaborative governance, and decision-making.IT Strategic PlanElevate the Office of Enterprise Portfolio Management within ODT and create a Chief Enterprise Portfolio Officer role to shepherd the creation of an agency-wide IT Strategic Plan_86db785a-e479-11ed-8263-f164f282ea002.2Office of Enterprise Portfolio ManagementChief Enterprise Portfolio OfficerWe will elevate the Office of Enterprise Portfolio Management within ODT and create a Chief Enterprise Portfolio Officer role to shepherd the creation of an agency-wide IT Strategic Plan.Strategic AlignmentMap ODT’s Strategic Plan with Center-level plans and align with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Strategic Plan_86db7986-e479-11ed-8263-f164f282ea002.3This effort will map ODT’s Strategic Plan with Center-level plans to incorporate User Fee Program commitments. We will also align with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Strategic Plan and federal mandates governing IT investments like the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA). FITARA enhanced the role of federal CIOs to ensure CIOs have oversight of all agency IT resources and programs. ^^ FITARA requires agencies to improve governance processes to provide products and services that align with business needs. It also requires the agency to develop and adopt a robust IT strategic planning process. ODT is shepherding an enterprise-wide IT Strategic Plan as part of the Prescription Drug User Fee (PDUFA) VII Reauthorization to be released in Fiscal Year 2023. Through this framework, ODT will utilize collaborative governance and decision-making practices at the FDA Technology Council to work with center stakeholders and focus on their understanding of center IT priorities and strategies.LeadershipDevelop a leadership pipeline that can maintain strategic continuity through leadership and organizational change._1d88f502-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea003Change is a continual and iterative process much like the product development lifecycle. Our leadership and workforce must be adaptable and ready to shift their focus to align with change. People are the foundation for the success or failure of digital transformation initiatives- and leadership is the great enabler and differentiator. Change leadership is about inspiring vision, action, and enabling the full potential in others.TalentAttract and retain top talent_1d88f61a-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea003.1Our increased focus on people and organizational culture in the context of modernization efforts will foster an environment that attracts and retains top talent.Leaders & Change AgentsCultivate leaders and change agents_86db7a80-e479-11ed-8263-f164f282ea003.2We will also work to cultivate leaders and change agents at every level of the organization. Empowered leaders and employees are a force multiplier - when everyone leads in every moment, the speed of change accelerates.Professional DevelopmentTest innovative talent and leadership development strategies_86db7bb6-e479-11ed-8263-f164f282ea003.3We will start with small pilots to test innovative talent and leadership development strategies. We will continue to invest in ourselves and build a high performing workforce and leadership pipeline to sustain and advance the FDA's modernization journey.Projects_1d88f732-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea004The LMAP in Action ~ The projects highlighted below represent the first steps toward a coordinated, strategic investment in organizational excellence aligned with our leadership modernization framework. These projects cut across all ODT strategic priorities and will enable ODT to build the internal capacity and resiliency necessary to meet FDA’s toughest challenges now and into the future.Organization & CultureContinuously reimagine and reshape our organizational structure and internal culture_1d88f836-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea004.1Organizational Design and Culture Change: ODT established a service and team within the Immediate Office focused on fundamentally changing how we work. This function will continuously reimagine and reshape our organizational structure and internal culture. Plans are underway to incrementally shift to a matrixed structure of cross-functional teams to increase ODT agility and performance.IT SpendingUnderstand and better communicate IT spending_1d88f94e-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea004.2Enterprise Technology Business Management (TBM): ODT is driving agency-wide adoption of the TBM Taxonomy. TBM aligns cost to IT services to improve delivery and efficiency. TBM empowers the CIO and agency leaders to understand and better communicate IT spending to senior executives, mission support offices, and program managers. Expanding TBM knowledge and adoption will improve leadership decision-making and business acumen. Working CapitalEstablish a dedicated IT WCF to advance IT Strategic Planning and enterprise TBM implementation_1d88fa70-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea004.3IT Working Capital Fund: The FDA Working Capital Fund (WCF) has funded enterprise IT since its inception in 2019. IT is one of several Enterprise Services financed by the WCF. Other services financed by the WCF include Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, Legal, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and Communications. ODT is working to establish a dedicated IT WCF to advance IT Strategic Planning and enterprise TBM implementation. A dedicated fund will help IT leaders manage and reduce costs while better targeting FDA’s IT investments.Modernization & StandardsEstablish an internal consulting service to advance technology modernization and adopt industry standards_1d88fb92-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea004.4Blueprint for Good IT: The team established an internal consulting service to advance technology modernization and adopt industry standards. ODT staff partner with Center leaders to develop a common framework of the FDA’s best practices, enterprise technology standards, resource management, and technology solutioning. This service creates a new partnership model for higher-value IT services and strengthens the IT ecosystem.Recruitment & RetentionEnable FDA to recruit and retain the top talent needed to drive change_1d88fc96-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea004.5Project Elixir: The team has completed work to develop a new hiring and compensation strategy for ODT. We are shifting our IT, data, and cybersecurity workforce to the Title 21 Hiring Authority as part of the 21st Century Cures Act. This new model will enable FDA to recruit and retain the top talent needed to drive change.TrainingImprove ODT’s training offerings to build the technology workforce of the future_1d88fdcc-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea004.6Project UpTech: Project UpTech bridges the gap between FDA’s new technology capabilities and FDA employees’ digital literacy skills. This technology upskilling and reskilling initiative improves ODT’s current training offerings to build the technology workforce of the future. In July 2022, ODT announced the release of FDA Academy, an enterprise instance of LinkedIn Learning. Work is underway to expand ODT’s training program to include IT certifications, “smart skills” training, applied learning, and immersive rotations. LeadershipLaunch a Strategic Leaders Program for new and rising leaders_1d88feee-e3e4-11ed-bd17-54f11d83ea004.7Strategic Leaders Program: ODT is launching a Strategic Leaders Program for new and rising leaders that sets a solid foundation for instilling ODT’s core values and building competencies through targeted learning sessions, 360 assessment, coaching, and independent learning activities. The goal is to prepare ODT leaders to be successful in their role and is an essential first initiative as part of ODT’s succession planning leadership strategy. The pilot cohort will focus on the newest senior leaders and will serve as the baseline for expanding our leadership development opportunities.2022-12-312023-04-26https://www.fda.gov/media/163709/downloadOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net