Chapter 3410
Table of Contents
.010 Introduction
.020 About CMIS
.030 CMIS Scope
.040 Projects Requiring CMIS Review
.050 Project Approval
.070 Procedures
.080 Questions
Kansas State University increasingly relies on information technology to serve the teaching, administrative, research, and communications needs of the university. Due to limited human and financial resources, it is essential that major central management information systems projects are prioritized to meet university objectives, be cost effective, and reviewed and evaluated periodically.
The Central Management Information Systems Advisory Committee (CMIS) serves in an advisory capacity to the Vice President for Administration and Finance and the Executive Computing Committee (ECC). CMIS is comprised of business and technology managers who share accountability for central management information systems projects. By working cooperatively, CMIS provides a disciplined framework for ensuring the right projects are pursued at the right time and at the right level of investment. Frequent monitoring provides opportunities to continually review and align the entire portfolio of investments.
The objectives of CMIS are to:
ensure new central management information systems projects are aligned with K-State business and IT strategies
provide a disciplined framework for leveraging existing technical and functional resources with deployment decisions
derive maximum value from technology investments
effectively plan and execute projects faster and more reliably by promoting the practice of project management.
CMIS lays the groundwork for more rigorous project management during project implementation. The presence of strong sponsorship and strategic alignment to the department/division and/or the university are requirements of CMIS projects. The process implemented by CMIS is known as "project portfolio management" in the project management industry.
CMIS oversees projects that have a major impact on K-State's central administrative systems and the technical and functional resources that support those systems. Considering the mission of the university and all affected users, CMIS:
receives, reviews, and recommends project proposals
discusses, proposes, and advocates short- and long-term direction
monitors progress, recommends further progress, redirects efforts, or discontinues a project.
.040 Projects Requiring CMIS Review
The following criteria should be used to determine whether a proposed project requires CMIS review:
Projects that involve Information Systems Office staff and:
require 320 person hours or more of functional and technical staff time, and/or
$10,000 or more of out-of-pocket costs.
Federal, State, or Kansas Board of Regents mandated projects that meet the above threshold.
Projects that also require ECC review:
Very large projects that require State of Kansas approval ($250,000 or more)
Other projects at the discretion of CMIS, e.g., projects requiring additional staffing, projects at risk, etc.
CMIS will use the following criteria for determining whether to pursue a project:
Alignment with business and IT strategies
Ability of the university to deliver
Costs, benefits, and risks
In addition to the above criteria, projects that have a major impact on administrative systems to be retired within two years will require additional justification.
If a proposal is approved, CMIS will prioritize the project into one of the following categories:
Mandated
Mission Critical
Strategic
Discretionary
Inappropriate
A detailed description of each priority is available at: www.ksu.edu/infotech/cmis
Project proposals may be submitted at any time but will only be reviewed and prioritized by CMIS once per month. A detailed description of the submission process, forms, and related information is available at: www.ksu.edu/infotech/cmis
Questions relating to the information in this chapter of the Policies and Procedures Manual should be directed to the chair of the CMIS Advisory Committee. For a current list of contacts, see: www.ksu.edu/infotech/cmis.
