Thanks to digital transformation, IT now occupies an important place in the organization of most companies. Companies rely on IT to effectively develop areas of work and meet objectives sustainably. An IT strategy can be used to simplify operational decision-making, maintain or improve performance, stand out from the competition, prevent security breaches, and much more. IT strategy should be a detailed plan of how your company intends to use its IT department to achieve business goals. Learn about the process of developing an effective IT strategy in this article.
Phase 1: Analyze your existing objectives
To set up an IT strategy, start by defining your company’s SMART business objectives. They should be specific, measurable, ambitious, and time-sensitive. Without goals, implementing an effective strategic IT plan is impossible. It becomes a question of analyzing the current state of your company’s digital strategy to determine its strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
You need to check the maturity of your processes, and understand the status of each IT operation by case management, response time, and software developed. Assess IT systems, applications, and platforms in every department of your company. You will also need to discuss methodology, structure, skills, infrastructure, IT security or governance to achieve your objectives.
Phase 2: Formulate your IT strategy
To formulate a new IT strategy, you need to identify the gaps between the current state of your IT network and your business goals. You should take into account existing solutions on the market used by other companies.
Create several scenarios considering the necessary IT resources, costs, and labor requirements. Your plan should present the essential elements of your IT strategy, namely:
- The future operating model
- The implementation of new technologies
- The adoption of new tools and methodologies
- The redesign of IT processes
- Staff recruitment
- Supplier management
- Governance practice
The pillars of an effective IT strategy vary from company to company and according to the objectives you set. Develop your plan with the most interesting solutions in terms of quality, cost, and ease of handling.
Phase 3: Assess and plan
In this step, evaluate different scenarios to determine the resources your company will need in each. Depending on the objectives you want to achieve and the means available, an IT strategy will be necessary. Plan its implementation using a concise roadmap. The implementation map should show you all information regarding costs, time (operational schedule) and the resources required.
After your IT strategy is put in place, measure the result and success of your plan. It should be based on specific key performance indicators (KPIs) including sales made, time, costs, computer attacks, breakdowns, etc.
If results don’t meet objectives, it’s time to optimize the IT strategy. From these measurements, establish benchmark for staff to achieve monthly, quarterly or long-term goals.
Phase 4: Review results
The last step involves results. Compile implementation maps, outlines, and IT strategies, and present them to your stakeholders for a final approval. Stakeholders are the decision-makers in your company, including director, the board of directors, and the management of information systems (CIO).
The team in charge of setting up the IT strategy must be able to present. The senior managers of the CIO usually provide feedback before the final validation of the master plan of the information system. It’s necessary to receive constructive criticism and remain open to new advice on the business strategy model.
Both small and large companies need an effective IT strategy to improve their digital transformation. Various activities can be carried out quicker, while optimizing costs. Through this management practice, both company executives and new employees understand their individual roles in achieving goals. When you don’t have the skills to develop a good IT strategy, don’t hesitate to outsource the services. IT experts can assist you in developing your IT strategy and be trusted to carry out auditing, the implementation of the plan, computer maintenance and more.
