Information technology is a critical function in most businesses these days. IT is not only a supporting function, helping to automate routine tasks and promoting process efficiency.
Even companies that do not consider themselves “high-tech” are increasingly using IT for digital transformation and as a part of their business plans. Yet, in some companies, management only sees IT as a technical function.
The IT systems and processes may work well technically but often are not well aligned with plans for business growth and direction. Having a specific IT strategy puts your systems at the heart of your business, serving your plans.
The days of the large business having an advantage over smaller ones in IT have gone. The new world of cloud computing, mobile and AI means that the smaller more agile company has an ability to move and respond quicker than many larger companies who remain with legacy systems. Both, however, can benefit from implementing an IT strategy.
Building an IT strategy
This usually starts with building a roadmap that will highlight benefits to be gained from change. Here are the key steps to consider:
- Aligning the business IT systems with its goals is the first step. Understanding how the business plans to grow and the direction that growth will take is key. We can then be clear what IT needs to do to support and enhance the business plans Also, what capabilities IT can offer that can form the basis for expanding or modifying those plans.
- The next step is often known as a current state analysis. This is a thorough assessment of the current IT systems in the company. By assessing each part of the system in terms of its value to the business and its technical quality we can arrive at an indication of systems are the highest priority candidates for replacement, upgrading or other action. Once this step is completed we can begin to look at what additional IT systems and processes may be needed to implement the business goals already identified.
- It is important that everyone involved is clear about the purpose of your IT strategy, who is responsible for delivering it and to whom it applies. Implementing a strategy for IT within a wider business plan works most effectively when the IT processes are aligned with changes in other aspects of the business. In the end, the IT will be the engine of delivery for many of these wider plans.
An IT Strategy roadmap’s purpose is to help focus your business on its core activities to make it easier for your customers to want to work with your business. If you would like to learn more about how Netitude can help with implementing an IT strategy for your business, get in touch.
