The Government of Saskatchewan (GOS) has an IT governance framework that oversees IT initiatives undertaken by ministries and entities. IT governance framework is built on three pillars:
1.making smarter IT decisions for GOS (i.e., One Government);
2.advancing Growth Plan Goals, which include strengthening and expanding IT sector growth and innovation in Saskatchewan; and
3.delivering stronger services for people (i.e., Citizen Centric).
The IT Governance process will allow government to have a full view of all IT initiatives. This will ensure a coordinated and collaborative approach to IT projects and enable decision makers to make more strategic IT investments.
While the Project Management Office enables successful delivery of initiatives, IT Governance and Portfolio Management enable decisions about which IT initiatives to pursue and at which time.
The goal is to develop trusted IT services that support our government programs and services. By using common components and government-wide systems, we will see a reduction in the number of IT applications being supported, and a reduction to the cost of ownership for IT across the Government of Saskatchewan.
The Portfolio Management Office (PfMO) is responsible for reviewing and recommending IT initiatives to proceed through governance by providing guidance, support and feedback to ministries about ways they can improve project proposals and business cases. We monitor the health of the projects through their lifecycle and play a vital role in escalating project concerns to IT Governance. Our office guides and counsel's ministries in the preparation and validation of their IT/IM strategic plans by developing and building relationship partnerships and obtaining a thorough understanding of a ministry’s strategic direction and business priorities. The PfMO serves as the central point of contact for IT Governance process inquiries, IT Strategic Planning inquiries and assistance, as well as IT Capital budget submission inquires.
If your agency has an IT strategic initiative to bring forward, please contact your Strategic Portfolio Manager (SPM) for your organization. Your SPM will discuss your business needs and collaborate with you to guide you through the IT governance process.
IT Governance structure
The IT Governance structure contains three core levels:
The Innovation Table is the governance body to assess business proposals/business cases to ensure the information aligns with the government’s strategies and is adequately developed to proceed in the next steps of the IT Governance Process for evaluation and priority setting at an enterprise level. See the current members of the Innovation tables.
Information Management Advisory Council (IMAC) is the governance body responsible to review and provide recommendations to ITGC for enterprise IT programs, projects, standards and policies. See the current members of the IMAC.
Information Technology Governance Committee (ITGC) is the governance body that provides strategic direction for IT in the Government of Saskatchewan. See the current members of the ITGC.
The PfMO will schedule initiatives for the appropriate Governance tables. View the 2024 IT Governance schedule.
Capital Submissions for IT initiatives
Financial governance structures still apply. Ministries submit their budget submissions through Treasury Board Branch (TBB) to Treasury Board. SaskBuilds Board reviews IT capital requests and makes recommendations. The Cabinet makes final decisions.
Working with TBB and SaskBuilds Infrastructure Planning and Priorities Branch the PfMO ensures the annual SaskBuilds Board Capital Budget review process and the province’s annual Capital plan is updated appropriately with the findings, comments, and recommendations from IT Governance on each entities annual IT Capital budget request. All committees meet regularly throughout the year.
In addition to IT Governance reviewing IT project initiatives, they also must review IT Capital asks prior to submission to TBB. Please work with your SPM to ensure they can schedule your organization accordingly.
Reporting for active initiatives
Once an initiative has been endorsed to planning and funding allocated, work can begin. For active initiatives, ministries are required to complete monthly high-level reporting on the status and progress to the Portfolio Management Office.
Dashboards will be prepared to show initiatives being reviewed by Innovation Table, IMAC and ITGC .