1 Flat Lining Technology Investment Peter Saxena CIO, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester NY

2 Flat Lining Predictable IT Budgets Predictable IT Budgets Stability in IT Investment Stability in IT Investment

3 Flat Lining Positive pressure to create good management practices and Positive pressure to create good management practices and To continually depend on innovation and best practices To continually depend on innovation and best practices

4 Flat Lining Creates a need for IT, Academic and Administrative leaders to work together Creates a need for IT, Academic and Administrative leaders to work together Decisions are based on Institutional Priority versus Individual priority Decisions are based on Institutional Priority versus Individual priority

5 Flat Lining Creates a need for institutional “appropriate assessment” of technology in education Creates a need for institutional “appropriate assessment” of technology in education Technology is not lacking in its value to education, education is lagging in its assessment of technology to education. Technology is not lacking in its value to education, education is lagging in its assessment of technology to education. - Educause publication on assessment

6 HE Leaders’ Goals are: 1. Create and support Evolutionary Growth in the use of technology on the campus (curriculum + admin) 2. Manage, foster and support the Exponential growth that will come as a result of goal 1.

7 Flat lining: 1. Manage the investment while supporting your mission of evolutionary and exponential growth in usage. 2. Hopefully for a Short Term (1-3 yrs).

8 Challenge: To manage Escalating demands for technology and support with Stable (not static) Funding and Resources. To manage Escalating demands for technology and support with Stable (not static) Funding and Resources.

9 Technology Stewardship CIO: Clear visibility and control of all elements of IT spending (resources and technology). CIO: Clear visibility and control of all elements of IT spending (resources and technology). CIO and Institution Leaders: CIO and Institution Leaders: 1.Strong commitment to work together 2.Institutional priorities vs. individual priorities. 3.Focus on overall cost of ownership

10 Process IT Spending across the Institution Resources Annual Contracts Annual Technology Replacement Cycles Projects Planned growth Protect and perpetually maintain current investment in technology. 80% to 90% Invest in the future. 10% to 20% Budget Adjustments Protect at all cost. Adjust as needed. Prioritize Investment based on current and future value

11 Step 1: CIO IT Spending across the Institution Resources Annual Contracts Annual Technology Replacement Cycles Projects Planned growth Map IT Spending to finite, pre- defined categories Value: Managing a handful of buckets versus the every line item. $1 to $30 Million Depending on the size of the institution

12 Step 2: CIO Resources Annual Contracts Annual Technology Replacement Cycles Projects Planned growth Look for savings: How can we do these in a different way? Process efficiencies Weed, Re-Negotiate Look for volume discounts, process efficiencies, options Prioritize based on Value Prioritize, create Phases

13 Step 3: IT Task Force Small IT Leadership Task Force of CIO and key Academic and Administrative leaders. Small IT Leadership Task Force of CIO and key Academic and Administrative leaders. Leaders must have Leaders must have –Institutional Focus –Have decision making roles –Must be respected by the Faculty

14 Step 4: Prioritization with the Task Force Resources Annual Contracts Annual Technology Replacement Cycles Projects Planned growth 1.Prioritize based on value to the Institution. 2.Weed / Mark what can be delayed 3.Add what needs to happen

15 Year over year IT Spending across the Institution Resources Annual Contracts Annual Technology Replacement Cycles Projects Planned growth Protect and perpetually maintain current investment in technology. 80% to 90% Invest in the future. 10% to 20% Budget Adjustments Protect at all cost. Adjust as needed. Prioritize Investment based on current and future value

16 Flat Lining 1. Creates a controlled and stable IT environment. –Predictable IT Budgets –Good management practices –Lean budget 2. Creates an institutional discipline to manage technology infusion in the Academic side –Academic Leaders partnering together to determine institutional priorities –Institutional assessment Tremendous value to the future of technology in within the institution.