Document code:  Security level:  Effective date:  ICT Governance  PRO-0027.06  Internal  15/01/2019  Yearly IT Work Planning and Preparation Cycle  The Main Governing and Planning Document: The IT Master Plan for Year N+1  Programme Plan Development and IT DPB Approval for Year N+1  TEM-0129.01  Uncontrolled copy once printed. Ensure that the right version is in use.  Page  14  of  92 Timing  Planning Phase  Q1  Early Programme Planning and budgeting, in detail for year N+1 and in  road map fashion for years N+2 and N+3  Q2  Finalisation of Programme Planning and the budget for year N+1  June Milestone: Approval of the Programme Plans and the IT  N+1 budget in IT DPB Q3  Further N+1 budget refinement; work on the SPD N+1 to N+3  continues Initiation of SPD N+2 to N+4  The following table summarises the key timings as they typically occur during the year. As  each phase is an additional step in the overall planning, taking input from the previous  phase and providing further input for the next, in practice this sequence reflects a  rolling  plan approach .  The IT Master Plan is also the driver for the planning of IT procurements for year N+1.  The Programme Plans are a key input for the IT Master Plan and the Unit Level Plans  (ULPs), which are normally prepared between October and November of year N for year  N+1. Regarding work planning and resource allocation, Programmes are synchronised with the  planning cycle of the Agency. Accordingly,  Programme planning  for year N+1 and road  mapping for years N+2 and N+3 take place mostly during  Q1-Q2 of year N . The first  discussion / approval round in the IT DPB is typically in June, synchronised with the  budget cycle, and minor  refinement  rounds for the budget take place as necessary in  Q3-Q4 of year N  before final SPD and budget approval for year N+1. The IT Master Plan for year N+1 is approved in the December Management Board meeting  of ECHA as one of the annexes to the SPD covering years from N+1 to N+3.  The IT Master Plan for year N+1 is normally presented in October / November of year N to  the IT DPB for discussion, further direction, prioritisation and approval. The IT Master Plan provides the financial and human resource planning too.  The Information Systems Directorate is in charge of the preparation of the annual IT  Master Plan. The IT Master Plan includes all  Programme Plans  and the work plans for the  IT Horizontal Functions as relevant. The Programme Plans describe the work planned for  each Programme in alignment with the SPD for the following year (N+1), plus an outlook  on the two years after. The Information Systems Directorate works in close collaboration with the business  Directorates to produce the IT objectives and outputs for the SPD and the related resource  estimates; given the relevance of the IT expenditure in the Agency’s resource plans, an in  depth yearly  IT Master Plan supplements the SPD .