Strategic Plan

Our strategic priorities and initiatives.

Our North Star

The Harvard Business School (HBS) IT three-year strategic plan (FY24–FY26) is organized around HBS IT’s five strategic priorities, as well as the IT mission and vision, which together support the HBS mission to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. Underpinning our mission, vision, and priorities is a set of strategic initiatives that will help us ensure a cutting-edge digital and technology landscape.

The strategic plan was developed in close partnership with members of our community to ensure alignment with our school and departmental business aspirations. The plan addresses current IT challenges facing higher education while also embracing the unique needs of the HBS community.

Given the nature of technology, we expect the strategic plan to evolve over time as HBS’s needs change and as technology advances. We’re excited to share progress and developments on the plan with the HBS community.

Developing the Plan

Hear from Beth Clark, CIO, and Rachel Noiseux, Senior Director, Strategy, Planning and Governance on the Building of the IT Strategic Plan

Video duration:6:02

Strategic Plan, FY24–FY26

Following broad engagement across the HBS community, we present HBS IT’s Strategic Plan for FY24 through FY26. The HBS IT Strategic Plan includes a mission, vision, and five strategic priorities that serve to directly support HBS’s mission. The five strategic priorities encompass 28 IT initiatives, and our values provide a foundation for this and all work that HBS IT undertakes on behalf of the HBS Community. View plan details through this report.

Our Mission & Purpose

IT partners with our community to craft, deliver, and support pioneering technology solutions that help educate leaders who make a difference in the world.

Our Vision

IT is a nimble, innovative, and strategic partner, helping to distinguish HBS as the world‘s leader in business education.

Strategic Priorities

  • 1. Excel in Service Delivery

    We strike a balance across accessibility, quality, velocity, and cost to better enable the HBS community to make a difference in teaching, learning, research, administration, and engagement.

  • 2. Design Sustainable Technology Architecture

    We ensure that the right approach is applied for selecting or developing applications and services that best support HBS’s activities, now and into the future.

  • 3. Modernize Foundational Technology for Digital Transformation

    We modernize and enhance our strategically critical enterprise systems to ensure the business of the School can be done efficiently and in a manner that engages our constituents.

  • 4. Protect HBS Information & Technology Assets

    We establish a security-first mindset across HBS to proactively identify, assess, and remediate vulnerabilities. We also ensure compliance with privacy standards and regulations while establishing balanced security policies that address cyber-risks in partnership with HUIT.

  • 5. Enablers: Build Organizational Health

    We seek to ensure that the people and processes that support our work come together effectively and efficiently so we can do our best work and meet the community’s needs.

Strategic Initiatives

HBS IT has identified 28 initiatives related to the five HBS IT strategic priorities. HBS IT’s initiatives are where we execute the important tactical work necessary to achieve the goals set out in this plan. We have made great strides toward these strategic priorities over the last several years, but our work is not complete. Moving forward, these initiatives, combined with our day-to-day work, will contribute to our success in supporting the HBS community and achieving our mission and vision.

1. Excel in Service Delivery

2. Design Sustainable Technology Architecture

3. Modernize Foundational Technology for Digital Transformation

  • 3.01: Alumni Engagement Program

  • 3.02: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) & Marketing Automation Program

  • 3.03: Digital Case Writing (completed)

  • 3.04: ExEd / HBSO – Alignment & Expansion of Core Business System

  • 3.05: HBS Live Online Classrooms 2.0

  • 3.06: Learning Experience Platform Integration with MBA & ExEd

  • 3.07: Research Administration Program

  • 3.08: Student Information & Experience Program (MBA & Doctoral)

  • 3.09: Web Content Management System (CMS) Program

  • 3.10: Research Computing Platform (formerly CloudJump)

4. Protect HBS Information & Technology Assets

  • 4.01: Data Loss Prevention

  • 4.02: Managed Security Service Program (completed)

  • 4.03: Security Remediation

5. (Enablers) Build Organizational Health

More about each initiative (login required)