Many small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) do not have a documented IT strategy, let alone an IT strategic plan. Typically, CIOs do not have the time or the resources to develop one, and they generally can keep an inventory of the department's resources and IT projects in their heads.

To those CIOs, the benefits of developing a strategy and plan are not sufficient to cover the cost of the weeks of effort typically required by most definitions of an IT strategy. However, a simple IT strategic plan, one implemented in days or even hours, can provide immediate payback for organizations of any size.