Ken Theis Director, Michigan Department of Information Technology 2008 MIT Sloan CIO Symposium Finalist

Ken leveraged portfolio management practices to break down agency silos and ensure that scarce budget dollars are invested in the highest value IT projects. The Michigan Portfolio Assessment Framework evaluates projects on metrics of value and risk, creating "a better balance of IT investments, flexibility, and agility to keep pace with political priorities and build consensus among stakeholders." The first portfolio process whittled down 140 projects to 49 and enabled agencies that had previously worked semi-independently to work in lock-step. Other Michigan agencies have recognized the value of portfolio-based management to improve governance, and are investigating how to apply the Michigan Portfolio Assessment Framework to non-IT investment decisions: "I haven't attended a better or more worthwhile event than the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium and you don't want to miss the 2009 symposium. The Award for Leadership brings tremendous visibility and recognition for organizations that foster innovation. My experience with this event is second to none and I highly recommend it to my peers and colleagues."