Exploring the impact of the Clinger-Cohen Act on information technology governance: A phenomenological study

Passage of the Clinger-Cohen Act (CCA) of 1996 was in direct response to Congressional inquiry into the perceived lack of proper management and oversight of information technology (IT) in the federal agencies. This current qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of 20 IT professionals to determine if the CCA had influenced IT governance processes in the United States Department of Defense (DoD). An interview guide was used to guide the discussions and collect the data. Seven core themes emerged from the research. According to the data, 90% of the study participants opined that the CCA remains relevant today. This conclusion was significant because it emphasized the continual importance of the legislation in influencing IT management and oversight. The study findings also revealed that the CCA has impacted IT governance processes in the DoD, which formulated the premise for the current research. IT governance processes provides decision-makers with the tools necessary to evaluate whether investments in major IT initiatives will yield the expected returns for the organization.