Developing an IT Strategy
A well-defined IT strategy outlines how an organization will use technology to support its overall goals. It serves as a long-term plan that aligns business priorities with technology capabilities and investments.
Many organizations overlook the importance of having a formal IT strategy, and instead address issues as they arise. In a world where technology underpins nearly every aspect of business, this reactive approach can lead to inefficiencies, disjointed systems, and missed opportunities. By developing a clearly articulated IT strategy, businesses can mitigate these risks and set themselves up for a prosperous future.
Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when developing an IT strategy that not only supports your day-to-day operations, but enables long-term success.
Understand the Current State
Conducting a thorough review of your technology landscape, and the processes that reside within it, provides the foundation to help you plan and develop your strategy effectively. It is critical to understand what tools are in use, what processes are dependent on them, and what are the associated risks.
Link IT to Business Goals
Your strategy should clearly communicate the expectations and actions needed; vague objectives won’t make goals a reality. Ensure the strategy includes timelines and accountabilities that clearly define actions needed to reach each objective, who will do it, and by when.
Engage Key Stakeholders
Host discovery sessions with Subject Matter Experts from all areas and company levels. By gathering information from varied personnel, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Performing cross-functional analysis to identify gaps, challenges, and inefficiencies can uncover evidence-based information which forms the basis for your IT strategy.
Define the Future State and Build a Roadmap
Once the current state is mapped and business needs are understood, it’s time to define your desired future state and build a roadmap. This roadmap should lay out clear initiatives that bridge the gap between where you are, and where you want to be. Prioritization is key, and the roadmap should include defined timelines, owners, and resource requirements.
Celebrate the wins!
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.
With these key steps in mind, you’ll be able to establish a clear, achievable IT future.
A thoughtful IT strategy creates alignment between business and technology, helping you get the most value from your investments. It enables organizations to act proactively and builds the foundation for growth, innovation, and resilience.