Common use of Long-Range Planning Clause in Contracts

Long-Range Planning. Service Provider will provide a process for the establishment, currency, tracking, and publishing of a Technology Plan that incorporates input from DIR, DIR Customer and DCS Service Providers and aligns with the Governance processes set forth in Exhibit 6. Service Provider’s responsibilities include the following: 1. Develop and update the long-range, comprehensive plan for DIR’s and DIR Customers information technology (IT) systems, processes, technical architecture and standards (the “Technology Plan”). 1.1. DIR and DIR Customers shall approve the plan, in conjunction with IT Governance as described in Exhibit 6. 1.2. The Technology Plan will be developed on an annual basis, and will include a rolling three (3) year projection of anticipated changes (subject to DIR business and planning requirements). 1.3. Coordinate the aggregation of technical planning information from DIR, DIR Customers, Service Provider, other Service Component Providers, and other Third Party Vendors as directed by DIR. 1.4. Provide an implementation road map with estimated timing and cost impacts, in a format consistent with Charges, for DIR and DIR Customers. 1.5. Provide linkage with technology currency requirements that align with technology refresh plans (e.g. software version migrations). 2. Help to understand, develop, and confirm the future business and IT requirements. 3. Assist in projecting future volume, technology, and geographic changes that could impact DIR’s and DIR Customers systems and technical architectures. 4. Identify candidates and requirements for the deployment of new technology or the automation of tasks associated with the Services and/or DIR’s and DIR Customers business processes. 5. Proactively submit proposals regarding new technology and automation to DIR for its review and approval. 6. Proactively seek to automate manual tasks associated with the Services. 7. Support DIR and DIR Customers in the proposal and presentation of changes in technology product and service offerings. 8. Facilitate and encourage active cross-functional, cross-group, and cross-location coordination and communication related to technology changes and automation. 9. Proactively identify strategies and approaches for future IT delivery that Service Provider believes will provide DIR and DIR Customers with competitive advantages and that may result in increased efficiency, performance, or cost savings. 10. As part of each annual planning cycle, provide specific, short-term steps and schedules for projects or changes expected to occur within the first twelve (12) months of each plan. 11. Help to specify the Equipment and Software architecture and standards, and participate in continuously keeping DIR’s and DIR Customers’ technical architectures current. 12. Facilitate appropriate access to specialists within Service Provider’s other organizations, as needed, to assist DIR and DIR Customers in developing and updating the plans. 13. Identify industry and technological trends that may impact DIR’s and DIR Customers’ plans. 14. Help identify and track regulatory issues/changes that may impact DIR’s plan. 15. Gather and incorporate the data and lessons learned from the operating environment that may impact DIR’s and DIR Customers’ plans. 16. Perform trend analysis from the resource consumption data to project future demand that may impact DIR’s and DIR Customers’ plans. 17. Cooperate with DIR and DIR Customers in researching and implementing automated tools to improve Service Levels and/or performance of the computing environment. Tool selection will be in accordance with DIR and DIR Customers’ standards and technical architectures.