The City of San Diego utilizes a large number of applications to support their business functions. Moreover, the San Diego Data Processing Corporation (SDDPC) provides the City of San Diego with most of its IT related services. These services include hardware and software maintenance, application development, and general support. The Water Department decided to evaluate its information systems' strategy and to align technology systems with its business needs. As a result, the Water Department completed an Information Systems Master Plan (ISMP) to address these needs. The Water Department decided to undertake an information strategic planning initiative to: ensure that all applications are growing in a uniform direction; review existing applications in light of the Department's strategic business direction; align system development and delivery with business objectives; review existing Information system section organization and its relationship with other sections within the Department; and, review existing application and information systems development and procurement strategies. The ISMP exercise was conducted with involvement of Department staff and management team members. The strategic planning approach was one provided by EMA through experience with other utilities.