Following the President’s direction USDA has taken action. The Secretary of Agriculture issued Memorandum 5500- 002 in support of E.O. 13423. This order directs that “Federal Agencies conduct their environmental, transportation, and energy-related activities under the law in support of their respective missions in an environmentally, economically, and fiscally sound, integrated, continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner,” The USDA “will implement sustainable practices for: n energy efficiency and reductions in greenhouse gas 10 emissions; n renewable energy, including bio-energy; n water conservation; n acquisition of green products and services; n waste prevention and recycling; n reduced use of toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials; n high performance/sustainable design buildings; n vehicle fleet management including use of alternative vehicles and fuels and reductions in petroleum consumption; and n electronic stewardship.” Environmental sustainability excites passionate debates, encompassing a broad range of subjects including the mining of the earth resources, the disposal of toxic waste, and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions (such as carbon dioxide) on the world’s climate. Prudent business leadership has environmental sustainability and the “low-carbon economy” firmly on the radar screen. Agency CIOs can make a major contribution to our responsibility for the environment. Drawing on insights from some of the world’s greenest enterprises, this strategic plan sets out a systematic approach to assist CIOs in tackling their enterprise-wide environmental sustainability responsibilities. USDA is taking a practiced, quality based continuous improvement approach to “<strong>Green</strong>,” a summary of this approach (Gartner) is presented as a continuous improvement cycle. In each iteration of this cycle, there are two critical questions that the CIO and other executives must answer: What impact is going green likely to have? And, how are we going to respond? As with any business problem or solution, USDA uses a holistic systematic approach, green is no different. USDA will approach this with the same systematic methodology and rigor. (Fig. 1) <strong>Green</strong> issues will affect different parts of the enterprise in different ways, influencing strategy, business operations, and IT. Dealing effectively with green- inspired changes requires a sound management structure to understand impacts, prioritize actions, and manage the enterprise’s response. The management structure applied to the USDA IT <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> comprises three parts, which you will see reflected throughout the document. The following explains the structure that is the backbone of the plan’s layout: n Having the right roles in place Central coordination of green initiatives is key to their implementation and ultimate success. n A systematic approach to environmental improvement “Going green” requires ongoing attention: it is not a shortterm project; it requires an approach that recognizes the open-ended nature of its initiatives. n A measurement system focused on the right things Guidelines come in the guide of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001, a management standard aimed at improving environmental performance, and The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Measurements have two elements: 1) the measures themselves and 2) the boundaries around the enterprise to set the scope for initiatives. These three pieces will provide sound business structure to get the <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> executed and to achieve the results that will create the positive impact on the environment. The USDA CIO has taken these business management principles and laid out a comprehensive plan to achieve the goals delineated by the President and the Secretary. The CIO Initiative areas are designed to outline the focus areas for the IT community to achieve the results required. By following the steps that have been laid forth and the case studies provided, and by enabling employees to take part in <strong>Green</strong> initiatives, USDA will lead the way in setting standards for the IT community. <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Information</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Strategic</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>
fig. 1 3.0 Introduction Environmental sustainability requires a systematic, continuous approach PLAN DO 1 ACT What opportunities and threats does a greening environment represent for the enterprise? Example: applying Deming’s plan-do-check-act cycle Supporting Environmentally Responsible <strong>Technology</strong> at USDA Strategy Business Operations IT 2 How should IT respond to these threats? Provide Tools Provide Insight Lead Change CHECk Complex / do later Quantifiable / do earlier 11
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