“Tremendous Change” For Colorado’s IT Department

Why It Matters

The restructure aims to speed up digital services for Colorado agencies, enhancing mission delivery while cutting overhead—an approach other states may emulate.

Key Takeaways

• Colorado IT eliminated technology, data, and COO offices.
• Reorganized into two teams: Digital Delivery and Security Infrastructure.
• Digital Delivery adopts agile product, cross‑functional, user‑centered approach.
• Shift away from traditional scope‑schedule‑budget metrics toward agency outcomes.
• Goal: reduce friction, improve strategic partnership with state agencies.

Summary

The Colorado Office of Information Technology announced a sweeping reorganization, dissolving its technology, data, and chief operating officer offices.

The agency consolidated its workforce into two core groups—Digital and Delivery, and Security and Infrastructure. The Digital and Delivery team will operate under a product‑centric, agile model, emphasizing cross‑functional squads, user‑centered design, and outcome‑based metrics rather than traditional scope, schedule and budget constraints.

Leadership described the change as “tremendous,” noting that the previous shared‑service structure “wasn’t delivering what agencies need” and created “organizational friction” that slowed progress.

By streamlining governance and focusing on agency missions, Colorado hopes to accelerate digital service delivery, improve security posture, and generate cost efficiencies, setting a precedent for state IT modernization.

Original Description

CIO David Edinger describes a major restructuring of IT in Colorado aimed at flattening the organization and getting closer to the agencies it serves.