University Information Technology Services (University ITS)


Concept of THE VITAL FEW


These are the University Information Technology Services' top-priority focus areas or projects that should span all managerial areas (although all areas may not have active tasks at any one time). The concept of the Vital Few is that each manager knows of the need to give these focus areas or items attention before other tasks. The University would always receive status updates on these areas or projects. These items would represent the major measuring stick for success within University ITS. Each manager will schedule the week's work by first considering the Vital Few, which are:
  1. Network and Network Access
  2. The PeopleSoft Project (Student Information Systems)
  3. Continual Support of Core Services
  4. Federal and State Mandates
  5. BOT and University Senate Mandates
  6. Data Warehouse (Financial)
  7. Web Interface to Data
The creation of the Vital Few list involves the consideration of several things:
  • the mission-critical areas of the University ITS;
  • the resources available;
  • categories which are necessary to keep the University functioning; and
  • the priority typically associated with the categories related to keeping the University functioning.

The mission-critical areas relate to both the University's mission and the primary users whom we serve. Task and project priority is determined by the application of Priority Considerations that we are developing and which have been within the Vital Few document. The mission-critical areas for University ITS are (in no priority order):
  • Student Information Systems,
  • Financial Systems,
  • Human Resources-Payroll/Personnel Systems,
  • Academic Support Programs, and
  • Networking Programs (including voice, data, and video).
The resources include the combination of staff, physical resources, and equipment.

Categories of what keeps the University functioning are academic, research, and public service. A more detailed break down of this needs to be developed. The priority associated with these categories appear, from various University documents, to be:
  1. academic,
  2. research, and
  3. public service.
Priority will have to be associated with the more detailed break down as it is developed. It is necessarey to merge the strategic plan directions and priorities on top of the University categories and priorities.

Mail comments to: wwwucc@uconnvm.uconn.edu