An IT Strategy helps a company align technology, process and strategy. This ensures technology and technology-related decisions support long-term company goals.
An IT Strategy scope of work includes:
- Documenting the current state of IT operations, calling out risks, waste, gaps, and areas of leverage where the company excels
- Defining current systems and evaluating underutilized systems, redundancies, and risks
- Establishing objectives for the IT organization
- Defining the future state of IT operations including the systems, processes, and resources
- Defining the activities, timelines, and resources necessary to bring the IT future state to life
READY TO START DEVELOPING YOUR IT STRATEGY?
The IT Strategy Development Tool walks through the steps to develop an IT Strategy.
On a high-level, the steps are:
1. Analyze area affecting IT, including:
- Systems – The software and programs in use, being implemented, and planned for implementation.
- Hardware – The hardware in use, being implemented, and planned for implementation.
- Processes – The processes surrounding the selection, adoption, and maintenance of technology.
- Data and Reporting – The information collected and used for decision-making.
- IT Team – The individuals and their responsibilities that contribute to shaping your IT landscape.
- Culture – The mindset of individuals towards the role that technology plays in the success and operations of the business
2. For each area, identify activities/changes to close gaps and capture opportunities.
3. Ensure activities align with and support strategic goals.
4. Define timelines and roadmap.
However, the fun doesn’t stop there – it’s only just begun! Once roadmaps are set, it’s time to start completing activities and achieving your IT goals!
THE “DO’S” OF IT STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT
Keep these helpful “Do’s” in mind:
Do host discovery sessions with Subject Matter Experts from all areas and company levels.
Gather your IT strategy information from varied personnel to get a comprehensive picture. Perform cross-functional analysis to identify gaps, challenges, and inefficiencies. Use this evidence-based information as the basis for your IT strategy.
Do celebrate the good stuff.
Though the objective of IT strategy development is determining an action plan to resolve issues and capitalize on areas of improvement, you’re bound to identify some company strengths along the way. Celebrate the areas of excellence and provide acknowledgements where warranted.
Do set clear, specific, measurable objectives.
Your strategy should clearly communicate the expectations and actions needed. Vague objectives won’t make the goal a reality. Ensure the strategy includes timelines and accountabilities that clearly identify actions needed to reach each objective, who will do it, and by when.
Do keep your IT Strategy up-to-date and aligned with the overarching company strategy.
A robust IT Strategy should support and enable the company strategy. For example, activities could include restructuring the IT Team or improving IT culture to support a new customer base
With these “Do’s” in mind you’ll establish a clear, achievable IT future.