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Prepare for a Successful IT Strategy

Preparation for IT strategy development and execution lays the foundation for IT strategy success.

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Your Challenge

  • IT leaders that need to develop an IT strategy must properly initiate the IT strategy development effort.
  • An excellent IT strategy with poor (or no) execution can’t accomplish the set objectives, and is perceived as IT’s failure.
  • IT strategy often needs to address the competing needs and concerns of multiple stakeholders – from the business side, from the IT side, and those external to the organization.
  • The development of an IT strategy requires specific expertise that may not be readily available at a given IT shop.

Our Advice

Critical Insight
  • Adequate preparation for IT strategy development increases the likelihood of successful IT strategy development and execution.
  • Preparation facilitates business approval of the IT strategy and investment into identified strategic initiatives, and it helps the business realize projected value from its investment in those initiatives, within the planned time frame.
  • The key to IT strategy success is to develop it at the right time, and with the right scope, level of detail, and planning horizon to adequately address stakeholders’ needs and concerns. 
Impact and Result
  • Approach the development of an IT strategy as a project and prepare for it by building a charter and having all stakeholders agree to and sign it.
  • Don’t attempt to develop an IT strategy with insufficient pre-planning, or you may lose the stakeholders along the way, and your strategy will address the wrong topics, along the wrong time frame, and at the wrong level of detail.
  • Identify and prioritize IT strategy stakeholders and understand their concerns to drive the IT strategy development effort. 
  • Ensure that your organization will have the capabilities required to successfully execute your IT strategy. 

Get to Action

  1. Prepare for and plan an IT strategy development effort

    Develop and execute a successful IT strategy.

  2. Identify and analyze key stakeholders

    Prioritize your time with the stakeholders who really matter.

  3. Analyze stakeholder concerns and map appropriate scope areas

    Keep stakeholders involved and informed with the right level of detail.

  4. Create a project charter

    Communicate the project, gain consensus, secure buy-in, and gain official approval for the development of an IT strategy.

Related Solution Sets

Decode the Real Corporate Strategy

Understand the best practices in business priority decryption.

Establish an Effective IT Steering Committee

Make sure you have the right passengers on board.

Tags

alignment, Architecture, strategy, initiative, strategic plan, current state, target state, Development, scope, capabilities, stakeholders, charter, execution, mandate, planning horizon, technology strategy

Related Content


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Preparation for IT strategy development and execution lays the foundation for IT strategy success.

Companies Who Helped

  • KPMG
  • TCSF
  • Vabyde

Solution Road Map

Other Solution Sets in IT Strategy & Alignment

  1. Prepare for a Successful IT Strategy
    Preparation for IT strategy development and execution lays the foundation for IT strategy success.
  2. Improve Value & Mitigate Risk through IT Governance
    Take the guesswork out of IT decision-making.
  3. Establish an Effective IT Steering Committee
    Make sure you have the right passengers on board.
  4. Decode the Real Corporate Strategy
    Understand the best practices in business priority decryption.
  5. Get IT in Line with Organizational Needs
    Determine the appropriate IT maturity level.
  6. Make the Case for the Hybrid IT Operating Model
    Break the link between the IT operating model and the business structure for a more effective IT department.
  7. Move to a Stable & Controlled IT Department
    Extinguish the Firefighter status and gain control over the IT department.
  8. Build a Culture of IT Innovation
    Enable IT innovation to achieve business goals.
  9. Institutionalize Innovation through IT
    Leverage IT’s strong multi-department spanning position to facilitate innovation across the enterprise.
  10. Create a Software Strategy
    Manage and guide the organization's software direction.
  11. Make IT a Partner in a Successful Merger or Acquisition
    Don't let an M&A sidetrack your career. Create a solid M&A plan to ease the transition.
View the full Solution Road Map