A simple breakdown of ValIT's Four Are's. Sometimes projects and programs become too complicated. So take it back to the basics with four simple questions about your IT project.

1. Project Portfolio
Management
The Four Are’s

2. The Four Are’s
Are we
doing the
right
things?
Are we
doing them
the right
way?
Are we
getting
them done
well?
Are we
deriving
the
expected
benefits?

3. Project Portfolio Management – Why are
the four Are’s important?
 Are we doing the right things?
 Aligns strategy with prioritization. How do we choose what to invest in?
 Are we doing them the right way?
 The CIO gets a seat at the table. Can IT support what is being asked? More importantly, does what is being
asked align with the current and future state of IT.
 Are we getting them done well?
 The CIO and the LOB’s are held accountable.
 The Lines of Business are customers paying for a service, but they have a responsibility for defining what they
need.
 They also have a responsibility to understand how a program/project is going to affect their business. They
need to make organizational and process changes as necessary.
 IT enables change, but it supports good process. It can not create good process.
 Are we getting the benefits?
 The LOB’s are expected to deliver. The Lines of Business are expected to know their business. The LOB’s need
to define the metrics of success.

4. Project Portfolio Management -
Prioritization
 Are we doing the right things?
 Does the program/project selection process align with corporate goals and
objectives?
 Consistent with our business principles?
 Does it provide value at an acceptable level of risk?

5. Project Portfolio Management -
Integration
 Are we doing them the right way?
 In line with our architecture?
 In line with our technology roadmap?
 Do we have the capability or can we acquire the capability?
 Does it align with other initiatives?

6. Project Portfolio Management - Delivery
 Are we getting them done well?
 Do we have the capability to deliver?
 Do we have processes in place to effectively manage?
 Do we have the technical and business resources to deliver?

7. Project Portfolio Management – Benefits
Realization
 Are we getting the expected benefits?
 Are the benefits clear and shared?
 Do we have the metrics in place to measure benefits?
 Is there clear accountability for realizing the benefits?
 Do we have a process to measure the full economic life cycle of the investment?