At U of T Scarborough, Information & Instructional Technology Services (IITS) is gearing up for the implementation of IT Governance to ensure that the IT initiatives across the campus are aligned with both U of T Scarborough’s overarching objectives and the wider institutional IT framework. This strategic change will promote collaboration and enable UTSC to efficiently operate IT services, as well as address increasing cybersecurity risks and changing stakeholder preferences. The purpose of IT Governance at U of T Scarborough is to:
- Maximize the impact of IT investments
- Improve end-user experiences
- Foster cross-departmental collaboration
- Manage risks effectively
What is IT Governance?
IT Governance is a set of processes that aim to enhance overall IT management and maximize value creation from investments in technology, thus enabling an organization to achieve its goals.
Why does it matter?
The implementation of IT Governance is driven by several critical needs:
- Resource Optimization: Due to limited funding and technical resource constraints, it is imperative to align IT investments with U of T Scarborough's strategic goals and the broader U of T IT strategy.
- User experience: Lack of a formal and institutional approach to decision-making has led to the deployment of IT solutions with overlapping functionalities and inadequate integrations among solutions, tools and platforms. IT Governance will enable collaboration, which in turn will result in the deployment of well-integrated and sustainable long-term solutions. Collectively, these improvements will lead to enhanced user experience and satisfaction.
- Risk Management: Improved transparency of new IT services and solutions and early integration of information security and accessibility requirements into solution design will help UTSC manage business risks more effectively.
What to expect?
To streamline IT investments at U of T Scarborough, IITS will execute the following recommendations over summer 2024:
- Set up a local governance structure for IT projects
- Align IT governance with the campus’ needs
- Implement a strategic portfolio management tool for better visibility and management of IT spending and projects
Community involvement
Community involvement is essential to the success of IT Governance. Students, faculty and staff will be able to submit proposals for the implementation of IT solutions, have opportunities to serve on the IT Governance committees, and be provided with direct channels to provide feedback on technology initiatives. An annual review process will also be implemented, allowing the committees to refine and adapt strategies based on community feedback. IITS will also organize information sessions to present additional details and respond to inquiries from the community.
“Building successful, enduring partnerships relies on a bedrock of transparency and inclusion, fostering a culture of trust and accountability essential for long-term success. By improving the ability to analyze data and see all campus IT projects clearly, together we can make decisions that are in the best interest of U of T Scarborough,” says Ravneet Kaur, Director, Business Transformation and Strategy, IITS.
IT Governance is set to streamline technology use at U of T Scarborough, aligning IT projects with campus needs and strategic objectives. This approach promises to clarify priorities, increase transparency and improve the overall experience for users. It is a strategic move towards leveraging technology to support the needs of the campus and the U of T Scarborough community at large. If you would like more information about IT Governance or have questions, please get in touch with Ravneet Kaur at ravneet.kaur@utoronto.ca.
Stay tuned; there’s more to come!