What is Federated IT?
Federated IT is a defined partnership between a Major Administrative Unit (MAU) and MSU Information Technology (MSU IT). A Federated IT partnership seeks opportunities to strengthen collaboration between the unit and MSU IT. The partnership aims to create a balance between unit expertise and enterprise solutions to deliver exceptional user experiences that support the mission, vision and values of the unit, IT, and the University.
What criteria identify units or roles participating in the federation program?
Federated IT requires strong collaboration and the right timing to be effective. MSU IT works closely with campus partners to determine a Federated IT roadmap.
Who is involved in the Federated IT process?
The Federated IT process consists of a collaborative team of both unit and MSU IT representatives.
Will reporting Org Units change when unit support transitions to Federated IT?
When unit support has aligned under the Federated IT model, the reporting org will typically continue to report to MSU IT.
What are the differences between units with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) vs. a Service Level Agreement (SLA)?
Every Federated IT partnership is defined by an MOA for the organizational structure and understanding of the working relationship between a unit and MSU IT. Some Federated IT units also have an SLA for MSU IT enterprise services outside the scope of the unit-dedicated staff under the MOA.
Are there any special considerations when working with a team involved in the Federated IT process?
Prior to initiating projects that involve units going through the Federated IT process, it is advisable to speak to Rich Czarnecki or Rosemary Ridsdale. It is important to consider the unique reporting structure of units with which IT has a Federated partnership when approaching projects.
Is this type of partnership common at universities?
MSU IT is a proud leader in the higher education community in terms of this innovative approach to IT partnerships. While many universities are just beginning to centralize IT operations, MSU is already in the next phase of establishing discipline-specific IT support in partnership with centralized IT operations.
Looking for additional information?
To learn more about Federated IT, reach out to itservices.oacio@msu.edu.
