We’ve talked about IT Strategy in prior posts. The second step in our process: aligning with business leaders. Technology executives must ensure that their strategy aligns with the direction of the business. IT exists to support business success by establishing effective systems that address its needs.
2. Capture the Business Context: vision, mission, values, and strategic goals.
A key success factor for the technology strategy build process is mirroring and aligning with the business. In this step, we must capture a clear understanding of the business environment. This can be achieved by reviewing the business strategy, which should the following elements:
- Vision of the organization.
- Mission and purpose.
- Values that govern the activities of Business.
- Strategic Goals: arranged in focus areas or themes.
- Strategic Initiatives: detailed programs and projects that are planned in priority order to achieve its vision, mission, and goals.
These components of the Business’s plan will aid in the creation of an IT counterpart to the vision and mission. They will also provide insight into the impact of the business strategy on the IT organization through analysis of strategic goals and initiatives.
If these elements of the businesses’ plan are missing, it’s a great chance for you to connect with key leaders. Discuss your perspective on business and IT collaboration to strengthen relationships.