ITS Predictability Project
DRAFT--September 2011
A.
General Information
Project Sponsor:
Project Manager:
Prepared by:
Date:
B.
Virginia Evans
Candace Graves
ITS Leadership Group
9/9/11
Purpose
IT at UVa exists to promote the core mission of the University by supporting those who execute it. To be
effective, central IT must be predictable so that those who depend on it can make plans and pursue goals
with confidence in the technology environment in which they operate. The ITS Predictability Project was
created to ensure that ITS makes and keeps clear commitments about service capabilities, service
performance levels, tactical and strategic directions, and all projects that implement new or enhance
existing technology products and services.
Expected impact to the University community include:
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C.
The University community will have a much better understanding of the overall IT environment, of how
priorities are determined, and of how resources are allocated.
The University community will have the current information it needs concerning the changes to the IT
environment that are planned, when those changes will take effect, how those changes will impact them, and
how to provide input into the change process.
The University community will experience fewer surprises in their use of and planning around IT.
The University community’s plans that depend on central IT services and directions will be more efficient and
successful because they are based on better information.
Constraints and Assumptions
Possible constraints:
Availability of staff resources for implementing the project
Timely progress on the Cost of Services project, which will provide the initial framework/listing of
ITS services
Timing of the hire of the new ITS Senior Director of Enterprise Infrastructure
Assumptions:
ITS is committed to becoming a more predictable organization
ITS stakeholders will work with ITS to negotiate SLAs, etc.
Additional constraints and assumptions are identified in individual sub-project charters
D.
Preliminary Scope Statement
The ITS Predictability Project includes examining and improving the predictability of both services and
projects. It includes developing a list of ITS services with negotiated service levels and developing a list of
metrics that will measure the services and hold ITS accountable for delivering on service level targets. For
projects, it includes tracking projects in a project portfolio, developing methods for prioritizing projects,
enabling project managers to be trained and supported with both project tools and mentors.
Communication is a critical component of predictability, and it will be built into the overall Predictability
Project and its sub-projects.
At the end of the ITS Predictability Project, ITS will have the tools it needs to become a more predictable
organization, and it will have improved on some services and projects in progress during the project.
E.
Resource Requirements
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F.
ITS staff resources (see individual sub-project plans)
Travel and/or consulting costs for ITIL implementation (amount tbd)
Tools to support communications, databases, etc.
Staff training costs
Risks
See Risk Assessment document
G.
Approval
Name / Title
Signature (recommended)
Date