Individual MYTP submissions (investments spreadsheets and written narratives) will be reviewed by the UCIO and a small HUIT team that will support data analysis. 

In aggregate, the common themes, trends, and areas of significant investment surfaced by the analysis will be shared more broadly, including with HUIT leadership, school CIOs, school Administrative and Financial Deans, the Provost, the EVP, and the Harvard Corporation. Findings may also be shared with others participating in the MYTP process and interested members of the community. 

In addition to the reporting on themes and emerging trends to various school and University leadership, information surfaced through MYTP can help:

• Enhance the effectiveness of IT investment procurement, utilization, and management
• Improve renewal and replacement planning and ensure an appropriate pace of investment in IT to support Harvard’s mission
• Support the evergreening of IT and keeping investments up to date
• Uncover potential risks, including in areas other than IT security, such as those associated with IT outsourcing or vendor relationships, to ensure Harvard’s operations and reputation are protected
• Pinpoint areas in need of additional support from the Central Administration
• Share information and lessons learned across IT investments and schools/units
• Start conversations about shared needs and opportunities

MYTP and IPIT (the Integrated Planning for IT process) are closely coordinated but distinct efforts. IPIT looks retrospectively at actual IT spending, both centrally and in the schools and units, while MYTP focuses prospectively on planned or anticipated investments. MYTP has replaced and expanded the forward-looking information formerly gathered through IPIT. Although the two processes follow different timelines—MYTP aligns with the MYFP schedule, while IPIT relies on data finalized after the general ledger closes in late summer—they are designed to inform and complement one another.

MYTP is meant to serve as a process complementary to other existing planning exercises such as MYFP, MYCP, and annual budget planning. The MYFP planning team coordinates closely with the offices administering those processes to ensure alignment and that they are not duplicative. Although MYTP is a separate (but linked) process, technology planning is closely linked to financial planning processes in many schools and units, and MYTP data are shared with senior leadership centrally to inform decision-making and planning. The timing of MYTP is such that it can also allow for meaningful planning that informs MYFP and annual budgeting locally.

It is important to include enough detail to describe the investment itself, the business challenges it will solve, and any opportunities to be realized. However, overly detailed or very technical descriptions of workplans are not needed. For most investments, three to five sentences should be sufficient.

Please write "vendor selection underway" or "no vendors anticipated" as appropriate.

A rough estimate is fine, and it’s understood that costs will evolve and firm up as work approaches. If costs (one-time and/or operating costs) are entirely unknown, please leave the field blank. However, schools / units are expected to include a cost estimate for FY28 projects or needs.

Lifecycle planning for technology is an important aspect of both technology and financial planning and is discussed as part of significant investment. This information allows schools / units to better plan upgrades and replacements while aligning with strategic goals, and over time, the data may be a useful factor to consider in assessing the value of our investments. Information on the life expectancy of investments across the University also provides helpful benchmarking for individual schools and units. Please see the FY27 Multi-Year Technology Planning Guidelines for more information.

The FY27 Multi-Year Technology Planning Guidelines provide additional detail on the process. The MYTP planning team is also readily available to you to answer questions and provide support. Contact information, including email, Slack, Teams, and office hours, is available on the MYTP website.

The MYTP planning team is available to answer questions by email, as well as Slack and Teams (see our Contact page for more information). We will also be happy to schedule meetings with individuals or teams.