Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC)

A systematic approach to managing the risk and returns of IT investments for a given mission.

A decision-making process for ensuring that information technology (IT) investments integrate strategic planning, budgeting, procurement, and the management of IT in support of agency missions and business needs. The term comes from the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 and generally is used in relationship to IT management issues [Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-11, Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget].

A systematic approach to managing the risk and returns of IT investments for a given Mission. The CPIC process is an integrated, structured methodology to managing IT investments, which ensures that IT investments align with the overall Strategic Plan and Mission in support of business needs while minimizing risks and maximizing returns throughout the investment’s life cycle. CPIC uses a systematic selection, control, and continual-evaluation process to ensure that an investment supports the overall Mission and business needs.

(Also called capital programming) refers to a decision-making process that ensures IT investments integrate strategic planning, budgeting, procurement, and management of IT in support of agency missions and business needs. The term was introduced in the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 and generally is used in relation to IT management issues.