Large Project Oversight

Large Project Oversight (LPO) is a process in ND state government that monitors information technology projects that are budgeted for over $250,000 in a single biennium or $500,000 for total project costs. ITD's Policy & Planning Division has been tasked with performing this process. To learn more about the statutory requirements regarding large project oversight, refer to NDCC 54-35-15.2-3, NDCC 54-59-19.1,3,6, and NDCC 54-59-23.

Large Project Oversight Process

The large project oversight process is based on sound project management best practices, more of which can be found on the PM Resources page.

The steps for the large project oversight process are explained in a Large Project Oversight Guidance Document (1.1 Mb pdf)

Policy

To assist in the process of gathering the required information the EPM Advisory Group revised and proposed ITD Standard STD009-05.3 (53kb pdf). This standard has been reviewed and approved by the State Information Technology Advisory Committee (SITAC).

Legislative IT Committee Review Process

Project Startup Report

Effective July 1, 2007, NDCC 54-35-15.2 Subsection 10 requires the submission of a project startup report summarizing the project description, project objectives, business need or problem, cost-benefit analysis, and project risks. Information meeting these requirements is extracted from the Business Case, Charter, and Project Plan, and reported to the Legislative IT Committee via a project startup report.

A project startup report template (238kb rtf), including examples, is available for agencies' use.

Completed Project Startup Reports

Posting of project business cases was ceased on July 1, 2007. Copies of business cases submitted through June 30, 2007 can be viewed below. Requests to view business cases and other project documentation should be made directly to the performing organization.

Completed Business Cases.

Project Closeout Report

Effective July 1, 2007, NDCC 54-35-15.2 Subsection 10 requires the submission of a project closeout report summarizing the project objectives achieved, project budget and schedule variances, and lessons learned. Information meeting these requirements is extracted from the Post Implementation Report and reported to the Legislative IT Committee via a project closeout report.

A project closeout report template (238kb rtf), including examples, is available for agencies' use.

Completed Project Closeout Reports

Posting of project post implementation reviews was ceased on July 1, 2007. Copies of post implementation reviews submitted through June 30, 2007 can be viewed below. Requests to view post implementation reviews and other project documentation should be made directly to the performing organization.

Completed Post Implementation Reviews.

Quarterly Large Project Status Reports

Regular project reports are required for each large project including those that have not yet begun. The ITD Policy & Planning division will prepare a project summary report for the Legislative Interim IT Committee meeting based on the agency large project reports. Status report templates are available for either the Planning Phase (30kb rtf) or Execution Phase (79kb rtf) reports.

In addition, projects must use the Budget/Schedule Variance Spreadsheet to monitor and report variances to schedule and budget. There are three different versions of the spreadsheet. Please use Variance Worksheet (123kb xls) when there are NO time and material costs to the project. Use Variance Worksheet T&M (141kb xls) when there are time and materials costs to the project. Variance Worksheet Mgmt Plans (129kb xls) contains some control logs to help manage the project.

Summary Reports and Archives

Each quarter, ITD's Policy & Planning division produces a Large Project Summary report. You can find the current report below. A listing of archived reports is also available. For more information about a particular project, contact largeproject@state.nd.us

Large Project Oversight