IT Strategy Creation

An information technology strategy outline contains high level approaches without technical jargon for accomplishing corporate and business goals, and is intended for corporate management and board.  The information technology implementation plan derived from the IT strategy outline contains detailed implementation steps in technical terms for information technology management and staff. This segregation of approach and implementation provides a powerful and flexible means of delivery to address both business and information technology presentation and implementation needs.
 
Figure: Information Technology Strategy

In this fast moving globalized world where strategies need to be created and changed based on ever changing conditions, organizations need to ensure they develop structures and frameworks to encourage and support evolving strategies. This will enable organizations to develop innovative products faster, and implement projects more efficiently, in order to lead their market space with innovation and value delivery.

For example, automotive companies recently tried to change their strategy from manufacturing more profitable gas guzzlers to smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles when they realized the impact of the recent economic downturn and increasing fuel prices. This can only be achieved with good organizational governance and collaboration.

 

Departments can no longer work in silos but operate as integrated teams to understand, develop and support strategies in parallel with complete visibility and transparency. IT management personnel need to be involved and integrated with business departments so IT and business departments can work together as one entity to understand and share their visions and goals for successful strategy creation. This iterative, integrated strategic development process that accepts changes and encourages innovation and improvement will empower organizations to lead their market place.

 

Strategy Outline:

The information technology strategy outline documents how IT will create organizational value based on business goals and strategies.

 

Good Practices:

- Review and revise the strategic outline yearly to ensure organizational strategic alignment.

- Create strategic outline document in less than 10 pages for management and board to review and approve.

 

Strategy Outline Sections:

 

Value Creation:

Business - IT Value

- Business - IT Alignment

- Portfolio Management

- Metrics

Innovative Value (Proactive)

- Product Creation

- Customer Satisfaction

 

Service Operations:

Resources

- People

- Applications

- Data

Operations

- Infrastructure

- Disaster Recovery

 

 

Figure: Information Technology Strategy Outline Components.

 

Strategy Plan

The IT strategy plan is an implementation of the IT strategy outline in technical terms for the information technology department and other stakeholders. Typically the Strategy Plan is reviewed and revised at least twice a year depending on need and market conditions, and to ensure it is aligned with business strategies. Using technologies like enterprise wiki to maintain the strategy plan, with clear owners for each section using RACI matrix (Responsible - Accountable - Consulting - Informed) can be a good practical approach for creating and revising the document as needed.