Moving forward with the Strategic Plan at ITS All Staff Meeting

Published on: September 30, 2019

About 185 Information Technology Services (ITS) employees gathered at Rotman School of Management’s Desautels Hall on Sept. 26 for the fall 2019 ITS All Staff Meeting.

Approximately 185 Information Technology Services (ITS) employees gathered at Rotman School of Management’s Desautels Hall on Sept. 26 for the fall 2019 ITS All Staff Meeting.

The event included an IT@UofT Strategic Plan update from Chief Information Officer Bo Wandschneider, an overview of a new role in IT@UofT Strategic Plan Delivery, table discussions on change processes and a funding outlook projection.

The IT@UofT Strategic Plan is helping focus and guide efforts to support the University’s academic mission through information technology services, informing the vision, framework and initiatives for the next five years. It includes three thematic pillars: people, solutions and collaboration.

Vikram Chadalawada, senior manager, Student Information Systems, for Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration (EASI), spoke to the crowd about his new role as IT@UofT Strategic Plan Delivery within the Office of the Chief Information Officer. His EASI role will remain 60 per cent of his work, while the Strategic Plan work will comprise 40 per cent.

Chadalawada described the Strategic Plan as a “living, breathing benchmark,” outlining how ITS employees are akin to a rowing team. “Each member is equally important and has a role to play,” he said.

Director of Online Learning Strategies Laurie Harrison led a discussion with interactive exercises about how to drive change within the department. In light of the emergent changes within ITS, Laurie posed the question: “how do I feel about how I am being impacted – either positive or negative.” Feedback from each table was written down and collected for consideration.

Laurie said that how ITS employees connect with the strategic plan is key. “What we want to do is figure out how to connect each of you into this planning process/journey.”

The morning event ended with a financial update and outlook from Director Mladen Stojanovic, ITS Business Operations and Administration & UPDC Finance, followed by a Q&A session.