A System Development Methodology has been instituted by the Connecticut Governor to ensure all IT projects are implemented and delivered on time and within budget. Ultimately, SDM best practices and policies have the underlying potential to save the state millions of dollars and better manage large IT projects.

Connecticut's DoIT publishes a detailed breakdown of IT and Telecommunications expenditures by Agency. Given that in FY2007 the state spent $126 million on IT and noting that for the first half of FY2008 the state has already spent $67 million, Governor Rell promises to ensure timely and within budget delivery of IT projects by improving the use of a "consistent set of development practices and methods".

In July 2007, Governor Rell issued Executive Order No. 19 directing that by September 2008 DoIT fully deploys a System Development Methodology (SDM) to be used in the development of major IT systems and projects. All state agencies, IT vendors and consultants will be required to use SDM and follow its policies.

According to the Governor's press release "SDM has seven phases, ranging from identifying business issues and defining requirements to post-implementation maintenance" In addition, enterprise IT projects over $1 million requiring more than six months work effort will use a new project review process.

Although formal benefits to the state remain to be determined by DoIT and the Governor, these new practices and policies reveal Governor Rell's approach to guarantee IT projects meet agencies mission objectives, comply with business requirements, are well managed and ultimately save tax dollars "whenever and wherever possible".