How
We Work: Our Information Technology (IT) Value
Assessment assists in defining an IT vision and communicating it
throughout the organization in a format that is clear and easily
grasped. This product applies business planning techniques to evaluate
IT efforts in a way that is easily understood by non-technical managers.
The assessment is organized like a traditional business plan. It
defines the products of the IT function and the needs of the marketplace
of internal IT customers, including magnitude (criticality), ability
to pay (budgets), competitive and peer pressures (e.g., outsourcing),
and both short and long-term product development efforts (projects).
The focus of the value assessment is on IT product potential within
the company, internal technology resource management issues, needs
for funding, expected returns and results from IT investment, and
relationships with internal IT customers and external partners and
suppliers. From the results of the assessment, both technical and
non-technical managers will identify ways to increase the bottom-line
value derived from IT spending.
In order to implement the IT value enhancements contained in the
value assessment, we recommend that organizations create a modular
systems architecture that addresses specific strategic and operational
issues. In this process we document the alignment of IT objectives
with business objectives and develop technical and policy specifications
to guide IT planning, purchasing, design, programming, test, and
implementation actions. Using the objectives and policies as a guide,
we can then:
- Understand technical product and service development requirements.
- Define key development processes, service levels and measures,
and anticipated results.
- Define and deliver new services required by competitive or
marketplace changes.
- Provide a platform for integrated project planning and budgeting.
- Identify specific change management and quality issues.
- Select and implement appropriate platforms, toolsets, and training.
- Develop an integrated software management process.
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