February 21, 2002

Ohio State's Information Technology Strategic Planning Process Kicks off

Are you ready to PlanIT?

That's the question we'll be asking often in the next few months. PlanIT is the name we've given to the extensive process of developing an Information Technology Strategic Plan for Ohio State. In recent weeks, the Office of the Chief Information Officer has been discussing the IT strategic planning process in face-to-face meetings with deans and department heads and in print and Web media as well. After a lengthy period of gearing up, we have arrived at the nuts and bolts stage of the planning process.

We think it is important to note that technology is no longer just a collection of disparate tools; it has become a transformative, enterprise-level engine that is mission-critical to an organization's success and competitiveness. We expect Ohio State's Information Technology Strategic Plan to become a vital component in the university's successful operation, enabling the campus community to:

• be strategically aligned with the academic plan
• share the IT vision
• maintain an IT environment that empowers students, faculty, staff, business partners and lifelong learners
• spend university resources on the right priorities
• benefit from the economies of scale

We will be rigorous in making IT strategic planning a collaborative effort and have fashioned PlanIT’s approach to emphasize active participation by the key constituents. We recognize that the success of this project hinges on close interaction among the OSU Project Core Team, Executive Sponsors and OSU stakeholders and on support from the larger community.

PlanIT entails first defining the current environment, then envisioning the future stateÑwhere the institution should be technologically in the future. If we can idealize where Ohio State wants to be in three to five years, we can work to identify the goals and resources that will take it there. In addition, every one of the initiatives we establish will have defined links back to the academic plan.

Between now and the end of summer quarter, we will be engaging campus planners, members of the campus community, and the interested public through a well-defined process. We will offer Technology Days seminars first, to bring in "thought leaders"6; as featured speakers and experts who will help us craft a vision of an IT organization that encompasses technology leadership, services, and infrastructure. Then we will seek additional campus input to develop an Enterprise IT vision and guiding principles for the strategic plan.

Our goal is to create an IT Strategic Plan that will be "actionable" in the sense that the initiatives identified are technically and financially feasible and will drive competencies that OSU needs to achieve its business goals and objectives.

To keep participants and supporters informed of events and progress, we will periodically publish updates in PlanIT News on this Web Site. For more information about PlanIT, contact Chief Information Officer Ilee Rhimes at rhimes.1@osu.edu or 292-6553 and Catherine Bindewald, Director of Technology Communications, Marketing and Planning at bindewald.2@osu.edu or 247-6980.

In the coming months, you'll be hearing a lot more. Let's PlanIT!

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