Talking about Technology Strategy, the tech exec’s goal is to address business needs through the future state target environment of the technology platform. Envisioning and documenting models in the tech strategy are vital for gaining stakeholder consensus.
In step seven, our key architects gather for planning sessions to establish cohesive vision for the future. We analyze identified gaps in the current environment and determine the necessary steps to address them. This ensures a comprehensive approach to shaping the desired state.
7. Envision Target State and Assess Gaps
With the IT mandate established and the existing environment thoroughly analyzed, we are ready define the strategic goals of our technology strategy and envision the future state of our IT platform. To achieve this, we will continue adopting an Enterprise Architecture modeling approach that enables us to depict a promising future scenario.
The envisioned future should encompass the following key elements:
- Strategic goals – good if you can arrange them into strategic themes or focus areas.
- Architecture models – conceptually depicting the future state in different areas such business alignment, data needs, and technology platforms.
- Specific technologies/ solutions – recommended for adoption to address the businesses’ strategic issues (aligned with business goals).
Understanding the tech landscape and envisioning the target model allows us to perform a gap analysis. This analysis guides strategic initiatives for a technology roadmap. By identifying the current state, we can determine what technologies are needed to achieve the desired future state. This process involves both understanding the organization’s goals and objectives, as well as researching and staying informed on emerging technologies.
It’s also important to involve key stakeholders in the assessment process. This could include department heads, end users, and IT professionals. By involving these individuals, you can better understand their needs and concerns and ensure that when you build a technology roadmap it aligns with their goals as well.
In conclusion, envisioning the target state and identifying gaps in the business environment are essential steps in creating a successful technology roadmap. By involving key stakeholders and staying informed on emerging technologies, you can ensure that your technology roadmap is aligned with your organization’s goals and objectives, setting you up for success in the ever-changing world of technology.