IT Strategy

Simply put, strategic planning is the process of determining an organization's long-term goals and identifying the best approach for achieving those goals. A strategic plan represents a shared vision of what will be, provides a framework applicable to a specific period of time, and identifies an overall direction. It also identifies the direction toward which short term actions will be aimed, guides acceptances or rejection of new products and opportunities, and governs resources assigned to current services.

Information Technology (IT) strategy explains how information technology is being deployed in alignment with overall business strategy. The detailed IT business strategy document outlines the next year or three to five years and usually requires no more than 30 pages. An IT Strategy should guide the development of the enterprise’s information environment in order to deliver convenient access to information, improve communication, collaboration and learning as well as to ensure a flexible, responsive and above all, reliable system.

Using the SWOT method (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), IT strategy should encompass all aspects of an enterprise’s information technology needs. Less important than mapping a perfect strategy is identifying key expectations and learnings among your team. Even general planning will uncover opportunities for obtaining new or upgraded technology, and indicate where economies can be achieved by pooling resources or developing multiple-use technologies. Above all, make it the framework that gives you the best use of your finances and IT staff. An information technology strategic plan is useless as merely a once-a-year exercise.

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