How to Get Started?

Do you have an idea for a new initiative or a business request and wonder how to begin? It’s simple!

For a comprehensive overview, please refer to our Portfolio Process Presentation. If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to schedule a meeting with Mégane Junqueira from the Portfolio Team—she will be happy to guide you through the process.

Also, check the two guides for Preparing Deliver Step by Step (Envision, Strategize & Plan) and Execution Step by Step (Deliver & Rollout). They will help you understand what needs to be done in each phase of the Portfolio Process. 

Annual Planning Process

Typically, by the end of the previous year (from July to early September), you and your IT LT & Business partners should identify the initiatives you want to pursue.

During this phase:

• Conduct your Budget Exercise (estimate the required budget for each initiative) so we can request funding from Finance.
• Develop and prioritize your Roadmaps in collaboration with IT LT and Business.
• Once finalized, these Roadmaps are presented to the Guardians for collective validation.

Note:

Starting in 2026, all initiatives will be validated together during the Guardians session. For 2025, however, you will still need to present the One-Pager Envision at the Guardians. After validation, you’ll only need to submit the One-Pager Envision (no presentation required), and for the Guardians, you’ll present the One-Pager Strategize (since Envision has already been approved).

Exceptions:

If a new, high-priority initiative arises and your IT LT is willing to invest, you can request an exception and present the One-Pager Envision as the first step.

Our current Portfolio Process, which is active since October 2024, aims to align more closely with the SAFe approach. Together with our brand new Portfolio Process, we aim to launch a new process for Small Software Purchases & Licenses Extensions - straightforward process designed to simplify your tasks, accelerating the implementation of such initiatives.

In summary, our current Portfolio Process have two different flows, based on the type of request:

• Regular IT Initiatives: These initiatives will follow the standard Guardians Validation Process. 
• Small Software Purchases & Licenses Extensions: For this type of request, we have designed a faster process, where the IT Counterpart (Product Manager) will simply need to complete our IT Friendly Request (a questionnaire), to request a stand-alone application or a licenses extention of an existent solution. 

Discover more about the two different flows in the presentation below.

All essential links are conveniently included within the slides for easy access. Click through to discover more!

What is Regular IT Initiatives?

Regular IT Initiatives are all the Initiatives, except those which classifies as Small Software Purchases & Licenses Extensions and Change Requests (for these initiatives, there is a specify bucket of money, no process is required). All the rest is classify as Regular IT Initiatives and needs to follow the Standard Guardians Validation Process, presented above.    

These Initiatives often have a significant value & impact on the organization and must be presented to the Guardians at the Guardians Meeting, which takes place every Monday from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM (Belgium time zone).

IT Friendly Request

IT Friendly Request is our process for Small Software Purchases & Licenses Extensions, a streamlined questionnaire designed to make your life easier and your workflow smoother. No more jumping through hoops - just a simple, efficient way to get things done.

By filling in this request you  INFORM IT about your initiative and ensure that YOUR ORGANIZATION IS SAFE and you receive all the SUPPORT needed on your initiative.  We promise you FEEDBACK WITHIN 5 WORKING DAYS! 

MUST ENSURE: Our security is maintained, and the SOLUTION/APPLICATION requested is aligned with IT Architecture & IT Strategy (no Infra changes or New Interfaces can use the IT Friendly Request).

Ready to dive in?