Gartner Launches New "Program & Portfolio Management" Offering for IT Leaders

Business Wire, Nov 1, 2006

STAMFORD, Conn. -- Gartner, Inc. announces the latest offering within the Gartner for IT Leaders product suite called "Program and Portfolio Management". The offering is designed to help IT leaders understand the latest methods, tools and techniques for driving, forecasting and assessing business outcomes from their investments in key programs and project portfolios.

"The Gartner for IT Leaders product suite aligns role-specific activity cycles with Gartner analysts and insight, which means clients spend more time applying Gartner insight to their business problems and less time finding it," said Robin Kranich, senior vice president of end user programs at Gartner. "The Program and Portfolio Management offering equips clients with the tools to help explain, influence, execute and successfully manage the activities within their role."

The Program and Portfolio Management offering is targeted to IT leaders with responsibility for project/program management offices, standards & methodologies, IT investment governance and program and project portfolio management.

"When major investments are committed to achieving strategic objectives or changing the way an organization operates, strong project management skills are essential," said Audrey Apfel, Gartner vice president and research Fellow emeritus. "But just as important is deciding how to organize and manage in today's world of multiple project streams, whether integrated in a strategic program, governed by a project or program management office, or evaluated and prioritized as a set of competing programs and initiatives."

Ms. Apfel, who directs the research for Program and Portfolio Management, identifies the key challenges facing program and portfolio managers today as:

* Identifying metrics and measures for managing projects in programs and portfolios that can be measured against strategic business goals and desired outcomes

* Optimizing structure and management processes cross-project and utilizing cross-enterprise resources to boost the value of the entire IT investment portfolio, including governance

* Strengthening business engagement through deploying leading change management practices, communications, negotiations, and ensuring cultural alignment

"In the complex world of program and portfolio management, no one needs more complexity in the processes they implement, the methodologies they deploy, or the research they use," said Ms. Apfel. "We focus our tools and insight to the true success criteria of the program and portfolio management leader - achieving specific business results or affecting real change."

There are now eight role-based offerings available in the Gartner for IT Leaders product suite. These include two released in February: "Security and Risk Management" and "IT Infrastructure and Operations". In May, Gartner launched "Business Intelligence and Information Management", "Sourcing and Vendor Relationships" and "Enterprise Architecture". In July, Gartner launched "Application Management" and "Business Process Improvement". Gartner's original role-based offering, Gartner EXP, is specifically designed for chief information officers (CIOs) and has 3,500 members. In 2007, Gartner will offer role-based access and products designed specifically for technology and service providers.

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. Gartner serves 10,000 organizations, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the investment community. The Company consists of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 3,700 associates, including 1,200 research analysts and consultants in 75 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.