| In today's Information Technology environment many | | | | and stay ahead with new technologies. Try and create |
| departments are looking for support and guidance with | | | | initiatives with the department managers, project |
| technology. We have found over the years that | | | | management philosophy, relationship management, |
| department managers are looking for help from IT with | | | | network architecture, security, systems modernization, |
| daily operations. In the current economic situation, | | | | and IT application training. Along with the managers, IT |
| managers are looking for more input during the IT | | | | should spell out the responsibilities, initiatives, budget, and |
| strategic planning. These managers are looking for IT | | | | opportunities to help develop a strategic plan. |
| to make a big impact on making them more efficient | | | | Besides a vision, a roadmap should also be developed |
| and cost effective.But, there are some departments | | | | where the managers can see the initiatives |
| that believe they can go it alone. These are the | | | | documented. IT strategic planning is not easy and |
| departments that IT management needs to address | | | | cannot be successful without the input of the |
| and guide. | | | | departments involved within the corporation. |
| Management has to take advantage of IT and its | | | | Start out the strategic planning process with |
| capabilities. Managers can also help IT by looking at | | | | infrastructure reviews. Set up meetings with the |
| their departments needs with information systems, | | | | department managers asking them to review their |
| which could be aging and might not meet modern | | | | department needs. This will entail the managers |
| standards. IT management also has to include all | | | | discussing with their employees and third party |
| department management (stakeholders) in the IT | | | | vendors. These vendors can help with updating their |
| strategies. IT first has to make sure that its own | | | | applications, which they are responsible for and then |
| environment is modernized and able to support the | | | | with the help of IT can drive the planning and action |
| company's infrastructure. IT has a unique opportunity to | | | | plans for upper management to review and decide |
| help departments improve their performance and | | | | what is best for the corporation. |
| bottom line with technology investments. | | | | Make sure to set the overall direction of the planning at |
| It is really important for a company to make sure the | | | | an elevated level and expand on all actions so to |
| IT infrastructure is current and can support new | | | | become more detailed for the strategic plan. Maintain a |
| technologies and applications, which departments may | | | | clear vision and keep all departments involved with |
| ask for during planning sessions. IT must have a vision | | | | updates of the plan. |