IT Strategy

There are few businesses today that are not supported by some sort of information technology. Having an effective IT strategy is an essential underpinning for a successful business model.

In the early days of defining a new business, building the supporting IT strategy entails four key steps:

• Defining the future business
• Making the case for action
• Justifying the necessary supporting investments
• Laying out the business and technology roadmap

Once these early steps have been completed, defining the necessary programme of work to create the supporting systems and processes focuses on, for example, looking for ways to e-Enable processes; reviewing legacy systems (e.g., for integration and replacement); defining, or refining, application architecture; prioritising investments amongst a total desired portfolio; planning migration.

Also, to ensure that both a programme of change itself, and the ongoing systems, are efficient (e.g., in terms of cost), IT strategy should also consider, and implement work in areas such as, defining cost management approaches; maximising sourcing & outsourcing opportunities; demystifying IT Charges to the businesses (to orient incentives to keep costs down); managing IT and project risk; managing organisational performance. In an existing standing organisation, these latter areas can also be a focus of a stand-alone cost and performance improvement programme.

Sixhills has a broad range of experience applicable in IT Strategy and can help you to build and realise your vision.