Creating an Information Technology Strategic Plan

The CIO or IT Director is responsible for creating an information technology (IT) vision. This document is the IT strategic plan. So what is an IT strategic plan? Let’s start with strategy from Random House Dictionary:

Strategy:
a plan, method, or series of maneuvers or stratagems for obtaining a specific goal or result: a strategy for getting ahead in the world.

Origin:
1680–90; Gk stratēgía generalship, equiv. to stratēg(ós) military commander, general

In business, the strategic plan is the overall long range goal. The plan includes tactics that will be implemented to attain the goals. To create an IT strategic plan start by assessing where you are today and where you want to go over the next 1 -3 years – It’s hard to go much further out for information technology. Then create the document outlining what your information technology will look like in the future. Create realistic goals within the budgets because this plan is your method to communicate to the CEO and CFO. This document will demonstrate that you have a plan and know how IT will benefit the business. If it is a compelling strategic plan you should be able to ensure the necessary budget.

This is not War and Peace. Aim for 15 pages, says Gartner VP Dave Aron, who saw one IT plan weigh in at 250 pages. Consider PowerPoint instead of Word as your medium of choice, says Cullen. It fosters brevity. And limit it to 25 slides. – Stephanie Overby, CIO article link: http://tinyurl.com/cx5c3r

Once you have created your IT strategic Plan, present it to your CEO, CFO and your staff. Then provided you get staff and management to buy in to the plan, magically, everyone starts doing things that will progress you toward the long term goals!

If you do not create the plan and goals how can you possibly get there?

Good luck and keep the passion for information technology.