Establish an Effective IT Steering Committee

Have the right people making the right decisions to drive IT success.

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Contributors

Andy Lomasky, Manager, Technology & Management Consulting, McGladrey LLP
Angie Embree, CIO, Best Friends Animal Society
Corinne Bell, CTO and Director of IT Services, Landmark College
John Hanskenecht, Director of Technology, University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy
Lori Baker, CIO, Village of Northbrook
Lynne Allard, IT Supervisor, Nipissing Parry Sound Catholic School Board
Norman Allen, Senior IT Manager, Baker Tilly
Paul Martinello, VP, IT Services, Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro Inc.
Renee Martinez, IT Director/CIO, City of Santa Fe
Sam Wong, Director, IT, Seneca College
Suzanne Barnes, Director, Information Systems, Pathfinder International
Walt Joyce, CTO, Peoples Bank

Unfortunately, when CIOs implement IT steering committees, they often lack the appropriate structure and processes to be effective.
Due to the high profile of the IT steering committee membership, CIOs need to get this right – or their reputation is at risk.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

88% of IT steering committees fail. The organizations that succeed have clearly defined responsibilities that are based on business needs.
Without a documented process your committee can’t execute on its responsibilities. Clearly define the flow of information to make your committee actionable.
Limit your headaches by holding your IT steering committee accountable for defining project prioritization criteria.

Impact and Result

Leverage Info-Tech’s process and deliverables to see dramatic improvements in your business satisfaction through an effective IT steering committee. This blueprint will provide three core customizable deliverables that you can use to launch or optimize your IT steering committee:

IT Steering Committee Charter: Use this template in combination with this blueprint to form a highly tailored committee.
IT Steering Committee Stakeholder Presentation: Build understanding around the goals and purpose of the IT steering committee, and generate support from your leadership team.
IT Steering Committee Project Prioritization Tool: Engage your IT steering committee participants in defining project prioritization criteria. Track project prioritization and assess your portfolio.

Start here – read the Executive Brief

Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should establish an IT steering committee, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the ways we can support you in completing this project.

Establish an Effective IT Steering Committee – Executive Brief

1. Build the steering committee charter

Build your IT steering committee charter using results from the stakeholder survey.

2. Define IT steering commitee processes

Define your high level steering committee processes using SIPOC, and select your steering committee metrics.

3. Build the stakeholder presentation

Customize Info-Tech’s stakeholder presentation template to gain buy-in from your key IT steering committee stakeholders.

4. Define the prioritization criteria

Build the new project intake and prioritization process for your new IT steering committee.

Guided Implementations

This guided implementation is a twelve call advisory process.

Guided Implementation #1 - Build the steering committee charter

Call #1 - Launch your stakeholder survey

Call #2 - Analyze the results of the survey

Call #3 - Build your new ITSC charter

Call #4 - Review your completed charter

Guided Implementation #2 - Define IT steering committee processes

Call #1 - Build and review your SIPOC

Call #2 - Review your high-level steering committee processes

Guided Implementation #3 - Build the stakeholder presentation

Call #1 - Customize the presentation

Call #2 - Build a script for the presentation

Call #3 - Practice the presentation

Guided Implementation #4 - Define the prioritization criteria

Call #1 - Review and select prioritization criteria

Call #2 - Review the project prioritization tool

Call #3 - Review the results of the tool pilot test

Book Your Workshop

Onsite workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost onsite delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.

Module 1: Build the IT Steering Committee

The Purpose

Lay the foundation for your IT steering committee (ITSC) by surveying your stakeholders and identifying the opportunities and threats to implementing your ITSC.

Key Benefits Achieved

An understanding of the business environment affecting your future ITSC and identification of strategies for engaging with stakeholders

Activities

Outputs

1.1

Launch stakeholder survey for business leaders.

Report on business leader governance priorities and awareness

1.2

Analyze results with an Info-Tech advisor.

1.3

Identify opportunities and threats to successful IT steering committee implementation.

1.4

Develop the fit-for-purpose approach.

Refined workshop agenda

Module 2: Define the ITSC Goals

The Purpose

Define the goals and roles of your IT steering committee.
Plan the responsibilities of your future committee members.

Key Benefits Achieved

Groundwork for completing the steering committee charter

Activities

Outputs

2.1

Review the role of the IT steering committee.

IT steering committee key responsibilities and participants identified

2.2

Identify IT steering committee goals and objectives.

IT steering committee priorities identified

2.3

Conduct a SWOT analysis on the five governance areas

2.4

Define the key responsibilities of the ITSC.

2.5

Define ITSC participation.

Module 3: Define the ITSC Charter

The Purpose

Document the information required to create an effective ITSC Charter.
Create the procedures required for your IT steering committee.

Key Benefits Achieved

Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for your steering committee
Completed IT Steering Committee Charter document

Activities

Outputs

3.1

Build IT steering committee participant RACI.

IT steering committee charter: procedures, agenda, and RACI

3.2

Define your responsibility cadence and agendas.

3.3

Develop IT steering committee procedures.

3.4

Define your IT steering committee purpose statement and goals.

Defined purpose statement and goals

Module 4: Define the ITSC Process

The Purpose

Define and test your IT steering committee processes.
Get buy-in from your key stakeholders through your stakeholder presentation.

Key Benefits Achieved

Stakeholder understanding of the purpose and procedures of IT steering committee membership

Activities

Outputs

4.1

Define your high-level IT steering committee processes.

IT steering committee SIPOC maps

4.2

Conduct scenario testing on key processes, establish ITSC metrics.

4.3

Build your ITSC stakeholder presentation.

Refined stakeholder presentation

4.4

Manage potential objections.

Module 5: Define Project Prioritization Criteria

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

5.1

Create prioritization criteria

IT Steering Committee Project Prioritization Tool

5.2

Customize the project prioritization tool

5.3

Pilot test the tool

5.4

Define action plan and next steps

Action plan

After each Info-Tech experience, we ask our members to quantify the real time savings, monetary impact, and project improvements our research helped them achieve. See our top member experiences for this Blueprint, and what our clients have to say.

Client

Experience

Impact

$ Saved

Days Saved

Testimonial

County of Marin IST

Guided Implementation

9/10

N/A

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake

Guided Implementation

9/10

$50,000

Valance is a pro. I valued his taking time to listen and discuss our move to create a IT steering committee Great advise and suggested supporting materials..

County of Marin IST

Guided Implementation

1/10

N/A

FirstGroup America

Guided Implementation

10/10

$2,546

Having an experienced person to talk my ideas through with and having Andy review proposed structures was very helpful to get me thinking about this in the right way. Lots of small bits that added up to some very helpful value.

Government of New Brunswick

Guided Implementation

8/10

N/A

Psac

Workshop

9/10

$47,500

To better understand the impact and benefits to our organisation to implement structures to manage and approve all IT initiatives and to help make better and informed decisions.

Westoba Credit Union Limited

Guided Implementation

7/10

N/A

Wilton Brands LLC

Guided Implementation

8/10

N/A

Euclid Systems Corporation

Guided Implementation

10/10

$3,820

Graham was helpful in coalescing the various blueprints into a bigger view of a potential workflow. There was no worst part.

Gainesville Regional Utilities

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

eGov Jamaica Ltd.

Guided Implementation

9/10

$12,733

We are got invaluable advice, which helps to address our special need/concern, from an industry expert who has made our experience seems second to none.

Liquor Control Board of Ontario

Guided Implementation

3/10

N/A

I had a call... with some good conversation. There were supposed to be follow links sent to me following our call. I have still yet to receive them even after escalating to our acct mgr.

PAR Technology Corporation

Guided Implementation

10/10

$12,733

Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority

Guided Implementation

9/10

N/A

Been trying to figure out a way to gain access to the Executive for almost 2 yeats!

Interswitch Limited

Guided Implementation

9/10

N/A

City of Maricopa

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

It was a pleasure speaking with Bernie. In addition to providing me with valuable insight, he also provided me with plenty of food for thought as I approach the next incarnation of my IT Steering Committee here at the City.

Clark Schaefer Hackett

Guided Implementation

10/10

$6,366

Robeson County

Guided Implementation

10/10

$31,833

Our analyst, Carlene, is fantastic. By far the best part of the experience. The worst, is trying to stay on top of all the 'homework' that goes into the process. This, however, is on our end and not yours.

City Of Durango

Guided Implementation

9/10

$1,273

Great to get direction and feedback on my IT Steering initiative. Nothing negative to report.

David's Bridal

Guided Implementation

10/10

$12,733

Bernie brought great real world experience and examples to the conversation and help us formulate an action plan for beginning our ITSC.

Environmental Charter School

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

Carlene's guidance and expertise were hugely valuable to me in this project. It was great to have regular meetings where she explained the requirements of the next step and then have an opportunity to work on those pieces and continue to get feedback on each step along the way.

Celldex Therapeutics

Guided Implementation

8/10

$1,273

N/A

Carlene is a tremendous asset and is wonderful to work with. I have nothing but positive things to say about the experience. You guys are great and she is terrific. The Steering Committee recently reviewed and approved the Steering Committee Charter that Carlene helped me assemble. She provided great insight and through gaining an understanding of our needs was able to anticipate our direction and desired outcomes.

Celldex Therapeutics

Guided Implementation

10/10

$19,100

I am thoroughly enjoying the experience. I anticipate extraordinary value being derived from the transformation that will take place as a result of this effort. Carlene is fantastic...and Manny's efforts are greatly appreciated.

Illinois Tool Works

Guided Implementation

6/10

N/A

Good material to assist with our direction.

Search Code: 18731
Published: April 5, 2010
Last Revised: May 11, 2016

Establish an Effective IT Steering Committee

Contributors

Our Advice

Critical Insight

Impact and Result

Research & Tools

Start here – read the Executive Brief

1. Build the steering committee charter

2. Define IT steering commitee processes

3. Build the stakeholder presentation

4. Define the prioritization criteria

Guided Implementations

Call #1 - Launch your stakeholder survey

Call #2 - Analyze the results of the survey

Call #3 - Build your new ITSC charter

Call #4 - Review your completed charter

Call #1 - Build and review your SIPOC

Call #2 - Review your high-level steering committee processes

Call #1 - Customize the presentation

Call #2 - Build a script for the presentation

Call #3 - Practice the presentation

Call #1 - Review and select prioritization criteria

Call #2 - Review the project prioritization tool

Call #3 - Review the results of the tool pilot test

Onsite Workshop

Book Your Workshop

Module 1: Build the IT Steering Committee

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

Module 2: Define the ITSC Goals

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

Module 3: Define the ITSC Charter

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

Module 4: Define the ITSC Process

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

Module 5: Define Project Prioritization Criteria

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

Member Testimonials

Client

Experience

Impact

$ Saved

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Testimonial

IT Governance, Risk & Compliance Map

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