Align Investments, Prioritize Initiatives, and Drive Institutional Success

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Kari Branjord
Vice President, Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Practice Lead
kari@higher.digital
Bio

“Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) is about rapid yet informed decision making that brings the institution along with it, incorporating change management principles as necessary. This is about setting our beloved industry of higher ed up to thrive in this new world order.”

Colleen Baker
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Colleen Baker
Co-Founder & Chief Operations Officer
colleen@higher.digital
Bio

Blog | White Paper  | Webinar

80%

of digital transformation initiatives fail without a clear framework

Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) ensures institutions align technology investments with institutional goals for measurable success.

Only 30%

of leaders say their institutions are agile enough to adapt to change

SPM enables data-driven decision-making, helping institutions prioritize initiatives and respond effectively to evolving student and operational needs.

30%

of project budgets are wasted due to misaligned priorities

SPM provides visibility and accountability, ensuring resources are allocated to the initiatives that drive the greatest impact.

What is Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM)?

Higher Digital’s Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) approach provides a structured, data-driven framework to help institutions prioritize, execute, and optimize strategic initiatives for lasting impact.

SPM empowers institutions to:

  1. Align strategic goals by ensuring initiatives and resources directly support institutional priorities.
  2. Enhance decision-making through real-time visibility into projects, budgets, and outcomes.
  3. Maximize impact and efficiency by streamlining governance, reducing redundancies, and optimizing investments.

With SPM, higher education leaders can confidently drive transformation, allocate resources effectively, and achieve measurable success.

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Expected Key Outcomes for SPM

  • Strategic Alignment – Ensure initiatives, funding, and resources align with institutional goals.
  • Data-Driven Decision-Making – Gain real-time insights to prioritize projects and optimize investments.
  • Seamless Integration with ESP & DMaaS – Strengthen governance, enhance collaboration, and drive sustainable change.

Drive Strategic Alignment with Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM)

  • Presidents & Cabinet Members – Ensure strategic initiatives align with institutional goals, enabling agile, data-driven decision-making.
  • CIOs & IT Leaders – Strengthen governance, improve resource amangement, and enhance cross-departmental collaboration.
  • PMO Directors – Optimize project prioritization, streamline execution, and drive measurable outcomes.
  • Faculty & Staff – Increase transparency, foster engagement, and contribute to initiatives that improve student and institutional success.

Align strategy with institutional goals

Ensure every initiative, investment, and resource directly supports your institution’s long-term vision and mission.

Enhance decision-making with real-time insights

Establish clear processes that enhance cross-departmental coordination and accelerate strategic execution.

Streamline governance and improve collaboration

Establish clear processes that enhance cross-departmental coordination and accelerate strategic execution.

Maximize impact and drive measurable outcomes

Reduce inefficiencies, increase transparency, and ensure every project delivers value for students, faculty, and leadership.

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Is your institution struggling to prioritize and execute strategic initiatives?

If competing priorities, limited resources, or a lack of visibility are slowing your institution’s progress, you’re not alone. Many higher education leaders face challenges such as:

  • Unclear strategic priorities leading to stalled or misaligned initiatives.
  • Limited visibility into project performance, making it difficult to measure impact.
  • Inefficient resource allocation that delays key initiatives and strains budgets.
  • Siloed decision-making that prevents cross-functional collaboration and innovation.
  • Difficulty adapting to change, leaving institutions unprepared for evolving student and institutional needs.

Higher Digital’s Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) framework helps institutions break down these barriers, align investments with strategic goals, and drive sustainable transformation.

Let’s Talk