IT Governance
Empowering Strategic Decision-Making for Technology Investments
What is IT Governance?
IT Governance ensures that the university's technology investments, risks, and resources are aligned with institutional goals. It provides a structured framework to enable strategic decision-making, fostering transparency, collaboration, and accountability in technology prioritization.
Key Objectives:
- Alignment with UND LEADS: IT Governance will support the UND LEADS strategic plan by ensuring that our technology initiatives are aligned with the university's mission and goals. It will help us leverage technology to enhance learning, research, and community engagement.
- Improved Decision-Making: With a clear governance framework, we can make better decisions about IT investments and prioritize projects that impact our university community the most.
- Transparency and Collaboration: IT Governance will promote transparency and collaboration by involving stakeholders in decision-making. This will ensure that our IT initiatives are well-communicated and that we work together towards common goals.
- Risk Management: IT Governance will help us identify and mitigate risks associated with using (or not using) technology, ensuring that our systems and data are secure.
- Efficiency and Effectiveness: By standardizing IT processes and practices, we can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our IT services, providing better support to faculty, staff, and students.
- Change Management: IT Governance will facilitate effective change management by providing a structured approach to implementing new technologies and processes. This will help us manage the impact of change on our university community and ensure a smooth transition.
Governance in Action: The Digital Initiatives Prioritization Committee (DIPC)
The newly established Digital Initiatives Prioritization Committee (DIPC) will play a key role in evaluating and prioritizing IT projects. Key aspects of this governance structure include:
- Project Submission and Prioritization: All IT project requests will be submitted via the UIT Ticketing System and reviewed by the Project Management Office (PMO).
- Decision-Making Process - The DIPC will score the projects based on strategic alignment, impact, cost, and risk and recommend a prioritized list to the Provost and AVP/CIO.
Membership
The DIPC comprises senior representatives across departments, including:
- AVP Finance and Operations (Chair)
- Human Resources, Marketing and Communication, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, Strategic Programming, University Analytics and Planning, Research and Development, and University Information Technology
- Dean of a College
- UND LEADS Implmentation
- Student, Staff, and University Senate Representatives
Meeting Cadence: Quarterly sessions to assess and approve project proposals (January, April, July, October)
What Projects Must be Submitted for Review
Any software and/or development initiatives that meet at least one of the following criteria must be submitted for review and prioritization.
- Annual cost is greater than $50,000 - The cost to implement and/or maintain the product or service is more than $50,000 a year. Must consider staffing cost to support the product or service after being deployed.
- Risk of not doing the project - moderate to significant - Experience substantial inefficiencies; increased cost of current solution/process.
- Impact on Community - moderate to high - Impacting multiple departments (faculty/staff); Impacting students; May impact parents or anyone visiting the campus; Involves public-facing change.
- Has an AI component - Initiatives that have an AI component.
- Data Sensitivity - requires strict controls - Has private or restricted data.
How Projects Are Prioritized
Projects are evaluated based on the following criteria:
- 30% Strategic Alignment: Contribution to strategic goals
- 20% Return on Investment: Cost of avoidance and reduction
- 20% Execution Feasability: Availability of skilled staff and ease of implementation
- 15% User Impact: Enhancements to user experience and operational efficiency
- 15% Risk Mitigation: Addressing significant risks
Your Role in IT Governance
We encourage active participation and valuable input from all stakeholders. If you have a project idea, please submit your proposal through our UIT Ticketing System. Prior to submission, all projects must be approved by the division Vice President or College Dean. Please plan accordingly, as the committee reviews submissions on a quarterly basis (January, April, July, October).