Check Instagram Post

Schedule a Discovery Call

Contact Us

Linkedin
Back to All Case Studies
Case Study · Higher Education

IT PMO Governance Assessment:
Ivy League University

Analyzing project governance practices, identifying gaps in methodology, and delivering best-practice recommendations for an Ivy League University IT Department's project portfolio management process.

Client

Ivy League University IT Dept.

PMO expert deployed

Certified in project management, training, and consulting with 25 years of experience

11 key PMO areas assessed

Evidence-based framework drawn from decades of practitioner study and hands-on experience

Three-phase approach

Discovery, assessment, and recommendations delivered in structured phases

Scoring error identified

Calculation problem in composite project scoring formula identified and immediately corrected

The challenge

Three primary failures in project governance, intake, and prioritization

Challenge 1

A project scoring process existed but was not being used for selection or prioritization — projects were approved based on arbitrary stakeholder input, not quantifiable measurements of value or benefits.

Challenge 2

Stakeholder engagement in the project intake process was informal, lacking identification of dependencies or resources required to execute a project.

Challenge 3

The PMO lacked an end-to-end framework for governing project intake, evaluation, change management, and execution.

The four areas most lacking in stakeholder involvement: business case development, scoring process, project intake, and project selection and prioritization.

The requirements

Three primary objectives delivered through a structured three-phase approach

Phase 1: Interview & Survey

Gather current state framework, processes, standards, and tools utilized by the University to govern the project portfolio. Elicit pain points and desired outcomes from stakeholders.

Phase 2: Assessment & Evaluation

Assess gathered data and compare results against best practices and industry standards used by similar institutions.

Phase 3: Final Report & Recommendations

Deliver final report with grading, competitive University benchmarking, and tiered recommendations.

How We Help

We develop strategies and tools that make your community engagement clear, impactful, and measurable.

Take the next step today – schedule a consultation and start engaging your community with confidence.

  • Message Development & Branding – Craft messages that resonate with your audience.
  • Community Outreach Strategies – Plan and execute campaigns that drive participation.
  • Stakeholder Engagement Plans – Build meaningful connections with boards, agencies, and local leaders.
  • Workshops & Training – Equip teams to communicate effectively and lead engagement initiatives.
  • Impact Measurement & Reporting – Track engagement results and refine strategies.

  • Short workshops or micro-sessions
  • Multi-day planning retreats
  • Ongoing engagement advisory support
  • Custom campaigns tailored to your audience

When your community is informed and engaged, participation grows. Stakeholders understand your mission, relationships strengthen, and your organization achieves meaningful, lasting impact.

Take the next step today – schedule a consultation and start engaging your community with confidence.

The solution

Three consulting services delivered: discovery, assessment across 11 PMO areas, and recommendations

Discovery sessions

iSeek interviewed, surveyed, and questioned a select group of the University’s stakeholders to determine current state practices, perceptions, and expectations. iSeek reviewed the University’s current approach to evaluating the decision-making process of selecting and prioritizing projects for execution.

Assessment & evaluation — 11 key PMO areas

iSeek PMO Assessments consist of 11 key areas of observation by which best practices can be measured, garnered from decades of evidence-based study and hands-on experience. Benchmark data from successful PMOs was used to compare the University’s level of maturity.
  • Strategy / Governance
  • Project Intake / Business Justification
  • Project Valuation / Scoring
  • Project Evaluation / Review
  • Project Prioritization / Selection
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Decisioning / Approval
  • Process Review / Continuous Improvement
  • Resource Alignment
  • Budget Alignment
  • Project Benefits Realization

Recommendations

iSeek provided recommendations based on best practices and industry standards commensurate with similar institutions who experience high levels of project portfolio performance. Deliverables included a robust report with Likert scale grading based on a Capability Maturity Model (CMMI) for Project Governance, and a phased roll-out plan of simple, achievable, and quantifiable next steps allowing for ease-in-effort implementation.

Identified

Gaps in project governance, intake, and prioritization methodology

Corrected

Scoring formula calculation error found and immediately resolved

Delivered

CMMI-based grading report with phased ease-in-effort recommendations

Established

Best practice approaches for project selection and prioritization

The results

Trusted expertise and reliable recommendations supporting a successful engagement outcome

iSeek provided a competitive advantage by offering best practice approaches in project governance for evaluating the process of decision-making, selecting, and prioritizing projects at the University. iSeek provided trusted experts, reliable recommendations, and ease-of-effort steps that could be adopted by the University. iSeek’s contribution was valuable and effective towards achieving a successful engagement outcome for the University.

The Planning, Engineering and Permits Department is very appreciative of the leadership Robyn White from iSeek Solutions provided as we tackled a major upgrade to our GIS Enterprise System. Our team was able to focus on the technical details as iSeek Solutions provided project management support and worked diligently to ensure the project was a success. We are grateful for the support we received from iSeek Solutions to help us grow and continue to expand our GIS services across City departments and to our citizens.

Planning, Engineering and Permits Department
City of Birmingham, Alabama

Ready to strengthen your organization’s project governance and PMO practices?

iSeek Solutions brings certified PMO expertise and best-practice frameworks to education, government, and enterprise clients.

Back to All Case Studies

Join our mailing list

Receive exclusive insights and updates from iSeek Solutions.

    Align. Optimize. Empower. Succeed.

    Linkedin
    Useful links
    How We Can Help
    Legality

    © 2026 iSeek Solutions
    All Rights Reserved.