Portfolio Management Office
For Staff
The Portfolio Management Office (PfMO) functions as a transparent, service-oriented Strategic Partner. Our mission is to empower the Fordham community by turning technology requests into sustainable, high-impact solutions. By aligning technology initiatives with University-wide priorities, we help departments enhance operational efficiency, manage resources effectively, and achieve their strategic goals.
Rather than acting as simple request processors, our team of IT planning professionals collaborates directly with you to understand your business needs and prepares your area for successful technology adoption.
Our "Discovery-First" Approach
To ensure every project delivers maximum value, the PfMO operates under a "Discovery-First" model. We decouple the initial Discovery phase (understanding the business need, mapping workflows, and planning for organizational change) from the Execution phase (building, testing, and launching the solution).
By focusing on discovery first, we ensure that human adoption and operational efficiency are built into a project’s plan before a single task is assigned.
Our Core Disciplines & Roles
The PfMO delivers professional services across four integrated disciplines, structured to support you from project intake through successful adoption:
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Our Business Analysts (BAs) are your initial point of contact when requesting a project. They lead the discovery and pre-scoping phases to translate your high-level business needs into clear, actionable functional requirements. Once a project is handed off for implementation, BAs transition to an expert advisory role, providing ongoing guidance as needed.
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Working closely with Business Analysts, our Process Improvement specialists act as your guides for operational excellence. They map your current "as-is" workflows and design optimized "to-be" future states. This ensures that process gaps are closed and automation opportunities are identified before technology is implemented.
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Our Project Managers (PMs) assume full ownership of execution, timelines, and tactical delivery once project scoping is validated. PMs coordinate the project team, manage resources, track milestones, keep sponsors and stakeholders informed, and utilize our centralized project management tools.
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Technology is only as successful as its adoption. Our Change Managers manage the human side of technical change. They conduct impact analyses, script tailored communications, and design customized training programs to help stakeholders transition smoothly to new systems and processes.
How We Identify and Categorize Projects
We evaluate project requests based on their overall institutional impact and strategic value to the University, rather than their size or complexity. Every request is reviewed and prioritized across three key categories:
- Strategic Projects: Initiatives that directly support long-term University and IT strategic goals.
- Mission-Critical Projects: High-stakes operational needs that are essential for maintaining daily University functions.
- Business-Related Projects: Focused department-specific initiatives aimed at enhancing local operations and boosting efficiency.
Project Requests
Whether you are looking to implement a new software tool, integrate existing systems, or add major capabilities to your current platforms, the PfMO is here to help.
To ensure all technology initiatives across the university are secure, supported, and aligned with strategic goals, all IT projects must begin with a formal request through the PfMO.
Process
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Start with a Project Request
Start your project by filling out the Digital Request Form. Once submitted, our team will begin the intake process.
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Intake & Preliminary Scoping
Once we receive your digital submission, a member of our Business Analysis team will review the request, follow up with you to schedule an initial discovery session, and begin drafting a Preliminary Scope.
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Review & Validation
Our IT Project Review Committee, chaired by the Assistant Vice President of IT Planning, reviews the Preliminary Scope to evaluate feasibility, assess resource availability, and ensure alignment with Fordham’s goals before handing the project over to the Project Management team for implementation.
Transparency & Project Tracking
We utilize project tracking tools as our centralized system of record to manage and track all active IT projects.