So, what’s your strategy for 2022?
Unless you had a crystal ball, it’s unlikely anyone’s business strategy at the end of 2019 going into 2020 included a global pandemic reshaping the way we work and the INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) tools we use. So, as we ENTER the new year, IT staff and strategy will likely be at the top of your priority list for you and your company.
IT will continue to serve as the backbone of your organisation, allowing you to carry on efficiently as many companies navigate remote or hybrid working. That means you'll have to think hard about your IT goals for 2022 because your digital environment, regardless of your industry or expertise, will be a defining element for your business.
Get your budget in order, this can help support your preparation for the unknown and get you ahead of the game. But, where do you start with scoping out an IT strategy?
What makes a robust IT strategy?
Talking
IT benefits everyone in the organisation, but not everyone necessarily appreciates this. Include as many stakeholders from as many business areas as possible early in the planning process. This will accomplish two crucial goals: 1) Assist IT in grasping what is important to other departments, and 2) assist in unifying and aligning teams across the organisation. A holistic approach will gain the necessary buy-in required for a successful strategy.
Identifying
What are your businesses risks and opportunities? Identify them, formally. This discovery phase will provide for a broad grasp of demands and lay the groundwork for prioritisation. Bring together all of your stakeholders, define roles and duties, and learn from one another.
Resourcing
Things are starting to fall into place at this point: IT leaders and representatives throughout the organisation are on the same page, and it's time to assess and prioritise. During this phase, establish resources, ranging from people to funds. Can you provide what is required to manage your risks and utilise the opportunities you identified?
Defining and executing
Define the deliverables and expected objectives, as well as the risks and constraints. Next, create a roadmap that integrates everything and includes dates and milestones for execution and implementation. Finally, it would help if you decided how any successes will be monitored to enable you to measure the effectiveness of any action taken.
Reviewing
This final phase assesses the success of your IT strategy planning and incorporates the ability to change and iterate as needed. Set up initial benchmarks and a feedback loop to make sure the strategy is still relevant and supporting the desired business results. In a nutshell - did the strategy work?