NCCU ITS Project Prioritization Scorecard

Scoring Methodology and Priority Tier Guide

Purpose

This scorecard is used to consistently and transparently prioritize information technology and digital initiatives at North Carolina Central University. It ensures that project decisions are aligned with the university’s Vision 2030 strategic priorities, institutional risk posture, and student-centered mission, while supporting fair and repeatable portfolio decision-making.

The model is designed to compare projects relative to one another, not to determine absolute project value in isolation.

How the Score Is Calculated

Each project is evaluated against a set of weighted criteria across five strategic categories:

  • Academic Excellence Enablement

  • Student Experience & Success

  • Institutional Sustainability & Stewardship

  • Operational Excellence & Service Delivery

  • Transformational Engagement & Impact

Each criterion is scored on a 1–5 scale based on defined scoring guidance. Scores are then multiplied by the criterion weight and summed to produce a normalized weighted score.

Because the scorecard uses percentage-based weights, the final score is expressed as a decimal value between 0 and 1(for example, 0.37 or 0.82). This is expected behavior and reflects precise application of weights across all criteria.

For reporting and ease of interpretation, the normalized score may be scaled to a 0–100 range by multiplying the final score by 100. This scaling does not change project rankings.

Understanding the Final Score

  • Normalized Score (0–1): Used internally by the scoring tool to rank projects

  • Scaled Score (0–100): Used for leadership reporting and portfolio review

Example:

  • Normalized score: 0.82

  • Scaled score: 82

Both values represent the same relative priority.

Priority Tiers

To support executive decision-making, projects are grouped into priority tiers based on their final scaled score.

High Priority (80–100)

Projects in this tier:

  • Strongly align with multiple strategic pillars

  • Deliver significant academic, student, operational, or risk-reduction value

  • Often include compliance, security, or mission-critical initiatives

High-priority projects are typically candidates for immediate funding, staffing, or accelerated scheduling.

Medium Priority (60–79)

Projects in this tier:

  • Demonstrate clear strategic value

  • Provide measurable benefits but may be limited in scope or urgency

  • Are strong candidates for planned or phased implementation

Medium-priority projects are often sequenced based on capacity, funding availability, or dependency considerations.

Low Priority (Below 60)

Projects in this tier:

  • Provide localized, incremental, or discretionary benefits

  • May lack strong alignment with current strategic drivers

  • Are appropriate for deferral, consolidation, or reconsideration

Low-priority classification does not indicate poor project quality; it reflects relative institutional priority at the time of scoring.

Important Governance Notes

  • Scores are comparative, not absolute. A project’s score reflects its priority relative to other proposed initiatives.

  • Certain initiatives (e.g., regulatory compliance, critical security remediation) may proceed regardless of score through established governance or risk-based escalation processes.

  • The scorecard is reviewed periodically to ensure continued alignment with institutional strategy and governance standards.

Summary

This prioritization scorecard provides a structured, transparent, and repeatable method for evaluating projects across the university. By combining weighted strategic criteria with clearly defined priority tiers, it supports informed decision-making, portfolio balance, and alignment with NCCU’s long-term goals.

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