By definition, every organization has an IT Strategy – some have it clearly articulated and the others are working to one without knowing it.
The question is: Is the IT Strategy producing results?
One can also ask the same question a different way: What must one do to make IT Strategy produce results? Or, perhaps, what is wrong with this IT Strategy?
The strength of an IT Strategy does not come from it being articulated. It lies along its entire lifecycle – from the vision to the underlying policies, framework, process design, including management and control mechanisms, and execution. Each of them must be carefully thought through and designed.
Vision, principles and policies set the direction for an IT Strategy. They are the first step to designing and defining an IT Strategy but, more importantly, they reflect the stakeholders’ beliefs. It is critical that the strategy evolve from these beliefs, otherwise execution will be “half hearted”. It is also absolutely essential to realize that “stakeholders” include both the designers and the executers of this strategy.
A framework provides structure to IT Strategy. It enables rapid, repeatable results by ensuring that we have a complete “picture” and made the key connections. Frameworks might not guarantee success, but they sure help sustain and repeat it. Sometime, they can also salvage a floundering effort by identifying root cause of failure. Without a framework success or failure are a black box. More often than not, success comes from tinkering with an initial failure. Frameworks are invaluable in this tinkering.
Sometimes we forget that IT Strategy is a process not a point in time event. Like any other process, IT Strategy process must also be designed and have an “owner”. It must also be integrated with other processes such as Budget, Portfolio Rationalization, Enterprise Architecture Planning and Systems Implementation. It must also be managed – monitored and controlled – using clearly defined metrics and mechanisms.
IT Strategy: IT Cannot be a Profit Center (Friday, September 08, 2006) IT Strategy: Of late, there is a lot of emphasis on IT ROI. While this is commendable, extending this argument to convert the IT Organization into a profit center is taking it to another extreme. For example, are HR, finance, and marketing profit centers? Why not?
IT Value Mapping (Friday, September 08, 2006) Why do some IT organizations create unprecedented shareholder value, while others earn the contempt of their business leaders? It is no secret that aligning IT with business improves IT ROI, what is often in doubt is how to make it happen. Can you say with certainty that your IT is aligned with business? Can you prove it? If improving IT ROI is an imperative for you, read on. This paper will show you how to improve ROI by 10% or more…and
IT Strategy Course (Friday, September 08, 2006) At the end of the day, most business leaders agree that alignment is critical, but they don't know how to achieve that goal. This course discusses the challenges of aligning IT with business in depth and presents a differentiated approach and framework.
IT Strategy Framework (Monday, September 25, 2006) IT Strategy requires a process and a framework. The former provides the steps and the latter the toolkit. Together they help an organization get to an IT Strategy that maximizes IT ROI. This article addresses the latter.
What is IT Strategy? (Saturday, October 14, 2006) There are many definitions of IT Strategy. Which one is true?
Help! We are being treated as a cost center! (Wednesday, October 18, 2006) Let’s face it. An IT organization that has to justify its budget as a “cost center” has lost the respect of the business community somewhere along the line.
Talk to Me: The Disconnect Between Business and IT (Monday, May 07, 2007) The disconnect between business and IT is often lamented. A lot is spoken and written about this chasm. Ostensibly, a lot is done to bridge it. Yet, most would agree the chasm still exists.
Why IT ROI doesn't matter? (Friday, November 03, 2006) Does IT ROI matter? Great many intelligent people are spending sleepless nights and countless dollars calculating IT ROI. The author argues that they are wasting their time and shareholder dollars!
Achieving and Sustaining Business and IT Alignment (Thursday, November 16, 2006) This article was originally published in 1999. However, it is on the money even today. Authors Jerry Luftman and Tom Brier walk through the issue of business and IT Alignment with specific examples and advice on how to achieve this goal. A must read!
Enterprise Information Systems Strategy and Planning (Thursday, November 16, 2006) Porter (2001)’s proposition of the evolution of technologies in business emphasizes the need for
information systems strategies to enable the real-time optimization of the value chain. It is echoed throughout the
literature that information technology strategies need to be aligned with business strategies. This paper proposes a
framework for the development of information systems strategies and plans driven by business objectives and
strategies. It provides an integrated framework for the development of technology architectures and business
processes across the value chain. A systematic approach to enterprise information system planning is presented.
7 Steps to Business and IT Alignment (Monday, November 20, 2006) No business will ever reach the goal of “business and IT alignment”. Should this discourage you from pursuing business and IT alignment? NO! It is a worthy goal to pursue. Indeed, it is a critical one to pursue. You might never reach alignment but you can take steps to get ever closer. This requires a process. Often, we ignore the fact that business and IT alignment is a process. This process does not have a starting point nor does it have an end. It is a series of “learn and do” cycles that incrementally get towards alignment. Let me explain.
IT Strategist's Dilemma (Saturday, December 09, 2006) Every strategist faces the "stay the course" or "cut and run" choice, at least once in their careers. How do you decide which course is the correct one? More, importantly, is this even a correct or complete set of choices?
IT Strategy Template (Friday, January 12, 2007) Enclosed is a simple template to create an IT Strategy for your organization. This is intended to be the starting point not a definitive or exhaustive workbook on creating an IT Strategy.
7 Signs of Trouble in Paradise (Monday, February 26, 2007) Ever wonder what happens when business and IT are not aligned? Well, like most other things in life, there are symptoms of misalignment. Monitoring them and analyzing them can help you avert disaster.
Rethinking measurement: More than evaluating performance (Monday, June 25, 2007) Management should focus on using measurement frameworks that show the hypothesized relationships between desired outcomes and the drivers (or leading indicators) of those outcomes; what's more, developing the right measures and using measurement data must be iterative and highly interactive.
Talk to Me: The Disconnect Between Business and IT (Tuesday, May 08, 2007) The disconnect between business and IT is often lamented. A lot is spoken and written about this chasm. Ostensibly, a lot is done to bridge it. Yet, most would agree the chasm still exists.
Focus on Customer Service (Monday, May 14, 2007) Is it time to relearn the no.1 rule of business? Some airline companies seem to have gone back to school. Unfortunately, this was an expensive education because their customers took them there!
Measuring IT Value Using Intel's Business Value Index (Friday, August 17, 2007) Want to measure the value of IT? Intel has proposed a solution based upon its "Business Value Index." Attached is an introduction to the methodology
Avoiding the Alignment Trap (Sunday, September 09, 2007) Alignment is an issue but are you focused on the right strategy to fix it?
The Ultimate Proof of IT Value (Friday, October 19, 2007) A study proves the bottom line impact of IT investments. Case closed? Hardly!
Primer on Project Management Metrics (Thursday, October 25, 2007) What you can't measure you can't manage. The attached article provides a good primer on metrics.
"SOLACE" in IT Strategy (Monday, January 07, 2008) IT Strategy is nothing without its implementation. How can CIOs get some "SOLACE" from their IT Strategy? Read on!
A Simple Guide To Enterprise Architecture (Wednesday, January 09, 2008) A good overview of enterprise architecture - definition, benefits, best practices and enablers.
Enabling the Strategy Focused Organization (Monday, January 14, 2008) Is IT Value compromised because of the strained relationship between business and IT? How can the CIO overcome this challenge?
IT Strategist as a Race Car Driver? (Tuesday, February 12, 2008) Learning from Mario Andretti sounds like fun but what has that got to do with IT Strategy? Read on!
Mission Impossible: Demonstrating the Value of IT (Monday, February 25, 2008) CIOs are caught in a vicious circle of "cost cutting" begetting more cost cutting expectation! How can you get out front and demonstrate IT's value?
Influences on IT Strategy (Monday, March 03, 2008) Excellent overview of IT Strategy and things that have an influence on its outcome. Must read!
IT Strategy For Business Value (Monday, March 10, 2008) The paper presents a framework for developing an IT Strategy for business value.
IT Strategy Framework with SOA (Monday, March 10, 2008) A very good presentation that takes IT Strategy to solutions architecture using SOA. Good read!
Developing an IS/IT Strategy (Monday, March 17, 2008) A very good presentation on developing an IT Strategy. Must Read!
A Framework for Developing IT Strategy (Monday, March 17, 2008) A very good discussion on developing IT Strategy including detailed steps and explanations. Must Read!
IT Strategy for the Law Firm (Monday, March 17, 2008) A presentation on the challenges facing CIOs at law firms and how to create an IT Strategy to overcome them.
Cracking the IT Value Code (Monday, March 24, 2008) Does IT Spending Matter? The answer is an emphatic no. Then what does? Read on...
Understanding the Value of IT (Monday, March 24, 2008) Understanding the IT Value equation is critical to making IT Decisions. This article provides guidance using the education industry.
Managing IT For Value (Monday, May 12, 2008) "We conclude that no existing method is suitable for assessing the business value created by IT assets." Read On...
Managing for Shareholder Value in difficult times (Monday, June 02, 2008) Is there "managing" to anything else? Read this excellent discussion on how everything in an enterprise should be managed.
Beyond EVA (Monday, June 23, 2008) A good discussion on EVA and how to plug its shortcomings.
The History and Future of Value Management (Monday, July 07, 2008) An excellent presentation on measuring and managing "value" - discusses various frameworks. MUST READ!
A Framework for Strategic IT Alignment (Monday, September 15, 2008) Is IT Alignment a strategic weapon to gain competitive advantage? Duh! But do you know to what extent information intensity affects competitive advantage? Hmm...
The Strategy Cycle (Friday, October 24, 2008) Often, the talk about the connection between Business and IT Strategy does not translate into action. At other times, IT Strategy is devised in isolation. This is a good discussion on the big picture of strategy in an organization - soup to nuts framework to connect ALL the organizations strategic processes, people and technology. Good Read!
DAM/VAM: A Structured Methodology for Developing and IT Strategy (Monday, November 17, 2008) Demand and value assessment methodology is a structured approach to quantifying the demand for and the value from IT investments. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to implementing DAM/VAM. Excellent Read!
A Common Framework for Business IT Value (Tuesday, December 02, 2008) What is the biggest problem facing IT Value? Lack of single framework that connects business and IT - top to bottom; left to right. Can a single framework connect the organizational stovepipes and frameworks within each? This is a good start but the problem is far from fixed. Good Read!
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