7 Steps to Create an IT Strategy


Learn how to build a multi-year IT strategic plan to meet evolving tech needs. This paper describes seven steps to creating a strategic plan for information technology.


This document primarily addresses the increasingly critical role of Information Technology (IT) planning in service providers. With the shifting landscape of regulatory requirements and market dynamics, the conventional approach to IT budgeting has proven insufficient.

The problem underlined in the document is that service providers have traditionally viewed IT spending as a routine part of their yearly budget, which has been largely short-sighted and inadequate. The urgency for advancements in various technology projects has increased. These requirements are driven by regulatory changes and market pressures, demonstrating the need for a more holistic and forward-looking approach to IT planning and budgeting.

The proposed solution is developing a comprehensive, multi-year IT strategic plan that assesses current requirements and accurately forecasts future spending. This plan should align with the organization's strategic and tactical plans, undergoing regular review and revisions at least annually. Such a plan must be kept up-to-date to maintain its relevance and effectiveness.

The document also shares a proven methodology, implemented by a leading technology consulting firm, for developing and enhancing these IT strategic plans. This method is intended to aid organizations in their journey towards a more robust, future-oriented approach to IT planning and budgeting, ultimately enabling them to meet current and future IT demands.

CIOs and other IT leaders can leverage the insights from this IT Strategy Creation Process to address several real-world challenges in their organizations.

  1. Improved IT Planning: IT leaders can apply the central lesson of the IT Strategy Creation Process to advance their approach to IT planning. Rather than treating IT spending as an annual budgeting exercise, the CIO can adopt a multi-year strategic plan considering the organization's evolving needs and technological landscape. This will help avoid unnecessary spending, align IT projects with the organization's long-term goals, and ensure readiness for future technology adoption.
  2. Aligning IT with Business Goals: The process emphasizes aligning IT strategies with the organization's broader strategic and tactical plans. In practice, the CIO can work closely with other organizational leaders to understand their strategic objectives and map how IT can support these goals. This alignment can help IT to be viewed as a strategic partner in the organization rather than just a cost center.
  3. Future-Proofing the Organization: With the understanding that technology needs and market demands evolve quickly, the technology strategy creation process encourages regular review and revision of the IT strategic plan. The CIO can establish a process for this regular review, which may involve scanning the technological environment for new developments, reassessing the organization's IT needs, and making necessary adjustments to the plan.
  4. Adopting New Technologies: The strategy process discusses the importance of investing in new technologies such as Electronic Health Records, resident internet, and telehealth solutions. CIOs can use this as a prompt to continually evaluate emerging technologies in their industry, assess their potential value for the organization, and include suitable technologies in the strategic IT plan.
  5. Navigating Regulatory Changes: The process highlights that regulatory changes can drive technology requirements. To tackle this, the CIO needs to stay updated on relevant regulations in their industry and ensure that the IT strategic plan includes necessary provisions to meet these regulations.

The proposed methodology in the document offers a structured approach to tackle these challenges, enabling the CIO to lead their organization towards a future-ready IT infrastructure.




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