The Office of the Chief Information Officer’s (OCIO) primary purpose is to develop a shared vision for IT programs, priorities, and investments that advances the Washington University mission, supports operations, and enables the university to excel in its increasingly competitive landscape. To realize this vision, the OCIO works with academic, clinical, research, administrative and IT leaders across the institution to develop a strategy that will better leverage our current information technology investment to ensure future investments help the institution, schools and departments, clinical departments, and our faculty and students achieve their objectives.
IT projects advance university strategies. Through IT governance, the OCIO and representatives from across the university identify key technology initiatives to leverage the university’s IT investment, and develop and deliver the services that support the overall IT and university strategies.
Current Programs and Projects
IT Strategic Plan Programs and Projects
To learn more about our current work, visit the IT Strategic Plan programs and projects roadmap page.
Projects and Portfolio Management
The Office of the CIO Projects and Portfolio Management Office (PPMO) provides a holistic portfolio view of all IT efforts, ensuring alignment with priorities identified in the university’s Here and Next and IT’s IMPACT strategic plans. Using a continuous improvement approach, we support the IT organization to achieve service excellence and operational efficiency.
We strive to provide services in a collaborative, inclusive, and transparent manner, partnering with all WashU IT, WUSM IT and departmental IT teams.
Services Available
- Project and Program Management
To establish the process and standards for project management and methodology within the organization, and provide skilled project managers to lead strategic cross-functional initiatives, and to foster communities of practice. - Portfolio Management
To monitor the progress of projects in the IT service portfolios, and provide relevant and timely information for IT governance, management, project sponsors, and steering committee decision making. - IT Governance Process Facilitation
To support the IT governance committees in the process of assessing and prioritizing proposed IT investments to achieve strategic objectives. - Resource Management Planning
To schedule approved projects and work with technical groups to assess future resource requirements; the PPMO will play a decreasing consulting role in this space as resource planning becomes a core competency in WashU IT. - Business Analysis
To provide skilled and experienced Business Analysts for projects, service operations, and other strategic initiatives; to continue to grow the Business Analysis Community of Practice. - Organizational Change Management
To provide skilled IT Learning and Development Specialists and Communications Specialists for projects and service operations; develop instructional resources and communications, including the effective distribution and retrieval of information via content management systems - Continuous Improvement
To provide skilled analysts for collaborating with teams to identify and assess current state, identify gaps and opportunities, and make recommendations toward creating an even better future state - Asset and Configuration Management
To establish the Asset Management and Configuration Management practices, including process and standards to ensure IT assets and their configurations are known, recorded, and accessible. - Technical Change Management
To guide and facilitate technical Change Management systems and procedures, ensuring IT policies and approvals are met before system changes are implemented. - Support for IT Service Management Practices
To provide consultative collaborative leadership for core IT Service Management practices including Incident Management, Problem Management, Change Enablement, Knowledge Management, Service Request Management, Service Catalog Management, Service Configuration Management, Service Level Management.
Planview PPM: Tool
Planview PPM is used to collect detailed time entry data in order to make informed decisions on resource allocations and project planning.
WashU IT Project Management Guide: Tool
New Project Management Guide for Project Delivery Consistency
You started a project. What do you do next? In an effort to improve the consistency in project delivery across WashU IT, we are pleased to announce the WashU IT Project Management Guide.
The guide will provide: standard project processes, explanations, and templates, and include information on how to get assistance throughout the lifecycle of a project.
Currently in the pilot stage, the WashU IT PM Guide will be available by late summer for WashU IT Project Managers and any IT staff associated with projects. (Requires access to Confluence).
Check back here soon for updates.
WashU IT Project Assets & Templates Library
Our templates are meant to be used as a starting point or guide. Each project will be different. Modify the template to suit your needs.
Project Templates by Phase
- 00 Envisioning (Box folder)
- 01 Initiation (Box folder)
- 02 Planning (Box folder)
- 03 Analysis (Box folder)
- 04 Design (Box folder)
- 05 Build and Test (Box folder)
- 06 Transition to Operations (Box folder)
- 07 Close Project (Box folder)
- Monitoring and Control (Box folder)
If you would like to provide a template to add to our library, email ppmo@wustl.edu.
The Project & Program Management Communities of Practice
The Project and Program Management Communities of Practice (PMCOP & PgMCOP) were initiated to provide Project Managers (PMs) and Program Managers (PgMs) learning opportunities through practice sharing and collaboration. The PMCOP and PgMCOP invite anyone at Washington University to share their expertise and engage with other practitioners across the university. Established in 2016 for PMs and in 2022 for PgMs, the communities have expanded to include Business Analysis, Business Alignment, and Performance Support topics. Our goals include promoting project and program practitioner best practices, improving PM, PgM, and BA skill levels across the university, and promoting the use of methodology.
The Project Management Community of Practice (PMCOP) meets every other month and the Program Management Community of Practice (PgMCOP) meets once a quarter. If you would like to participate, or have a meeting topic suggestion, please contact us at ppmo@wustl.edu.
The Business Analysis Community of Practice
Launched in September 2021, the Business Analysis Community of Practice (BACoP) provides opportunities for all to expand their knowledge of business analysis strategies, deliverables, techniques and methodology. We take the word “Community” in our title very seriously; members of the Community volunteer to share their expertise in topic-focused meetings, and all are encouraged to participate by asking questions and sharing knowledge. These gatherings provide a great opportunity for BAs from various departments to meet and connect with one another.
Currently, meetings are held every other month. If you would like to participate, please contact debra.graslaub@wustl.edu.