In my conversations with hundreds of business leaders each year, I find they have a clear picture of what they want their business to look like in the future. They have an annual plan with goals and metrics that must be achieved to get the business closer to that picture, and they have annual department plans to support the overall company vision.
But when I ask what their IT plan looks like, most tell me one of two things:
- They don’t have an IT plan
- Their IT plan only contains the technology they need to replace or renew
Read: Crafting 3 Core IT Plans with Thriveon
So, How Does that Support Your Business Plan?
It doesn’t.
Business is constantly changing, as is technology. Your IT plan should evolve, too. The fact is, modern technology enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of all other business functions.
What Does Effective IT Planning Look Like?
Business and technology are ever-changing; your IT plan should, too. Today's technology enhances every function within your business, increasing efficiency and boosting the revenue each employee can generate. A forward-thinking IT strategy is essential for business success and should include:
- Strategic leadership: You need an IT leader who understands your business and technology strategically so they can align IT goals with overall business objectives. This leader should not just be a manager or director but a chief information officer (CIO).
- Technology oversight: The CIO needs to strategically guide and direct all technology aspects, including hardware, software, business applications and services. These components must work together for your business to thrive.
- Recurring IT meetings: The CIO holds recurring IT steering meetings with all functional leaders. These meetings should evaluate the existing IT plan against changing business needs, ensuring top priorities remain aligned and identifying future opportunities.
- Quantified initiatives: IT initiatives must be quantified in business terms, such as hours saved per month or the revenue at risk.
- Proactive productivity initiatives: The CIO should propose new productivity initiatives based on a detailed analysis of how each business function operates and how each initiative will further support the business plan.
- Risk analysis: New risks to the business plan should be identified based on an in-depth analysis of your current IT setup, highlighting areas where your technology footprint deviates from IT best practices.
Thriveon’s Role in Effective IT Planning
At Thriveon, we help companies create and implement more effective IT plans, guide them in making strategic IT investments and ensure these investments deliver the intended business value. Our expertise in aligning technology with business goals can drive significant efficiency, productivity and profitability improvements.
Are you ready to transform your business through technology? Schedule a consultation to learn how we can help you create a winning IT strategy.