Pace University

Problems Solved: Antiquated and Poorly Integrated Technology, Inability to Change Rapidly.		Strategic Focus: Leading and Navigating Change, Crafting and Executing Strategy, Leveraging Technology, Developing Staff/Organizational Capacity, Transforming Culture, Enhancing Revenues.
Project Team:  Donald Norris, Samuel Kirkpatrick, Charles Thomas, Suzanne Forsyth, and Phil Taylor

Pace University is a private institution of over 13,000 students having multiple campuses in and around metropolitan New York City.  In 2003, Pace began Project SPARTA, which involved the selection and implementation of a replacement/enhancement of its enterprise technology applications.  This involved the enhancement of the enterprise network and implementation of the five Banner modules, enterprise portal, and other enhancements.

Strategic Initiatives was engaged in 2004 to perform Quality Assurance on the Project SPARTA implementation.  We were also tasked with introducing change management principles and practices into Pace University.  The goal was to leverage the new technologies in ways that would generate return on investment and create new value propositions that would justify the investment in technology.  Working with the Pace leadership, Strategic Initiatives developed a Change Management Plan, which identified the performance leaps needed to achieve Pace’s strategic goals, Pace’s readiness for change, and a year-long change process.  Following this plan, Strategic Initiatives engaged the University’s leadership in the change process and developed a change management curriculum which was rolled out to staff and managers by Pace staff.