Thursday 29 August 2013

A Good IT Strategy Is Extremely Important

By Emma Mathers


Information Technology or IT strategy is the term used as a description of the full business plan and it consists of tactics; objectives and principles that are related to how each organization will utilize its technologies. These important strategies will primarily focus on the technology itself and sometimes it includes the people who have to manage them. These business strategies are usually in written formats and concentrate on the organisations technology employment decisions.

A few other aspects that are focal points are efficient expenditure for technological aspects, correct use of the available technology in order to make good use of incorporating them into an organization. Overall the chief area of focus is ensuring that the company, its employees and customers are achievement the full benefit of the used technology. Strategies relating to this part of the business cover a period of 3-5 years.

Most organizations decide to make their strategies effective through a written document. These plans or documents need to be flexible so as to allow for new circumstances that may arise. As businesses change so should these plans and what their priorities are so as to make sure that the latest technology is employed to assist workers in their jobs.

Budget constraint, new technology and varying needs all have an effect on how strategies are adjusted or incorporated into each organization. A perfect plan should be easy for employees to follow; this will be in the way that it has been set out. Additionally there are 4 areas that one should focus on especially when designing these plans.

Firstly the main organizational process and information requirements that ones IT system has to be able to support. Secondly, the key equipment needed in order to support the related activities, such as desktops, servers, laptops as well as communication systems. This will also extend onto the operating systems and application software that is used for the various functions of departments within the organization.

Another vital decision that should be made is if the organization is going to use relatively standard software or needs systems designed. Other contemplations are if the various applications need to be supported 24/7; if any services are going to be outsourced or taught to in- house skilled teams. These decisions are very important and will certainly need careful planning and consideration.

There are numerous companies that will happily operate without strategies being put in place; it may work for some industries but not all of them. But alternately, not putting a plan in place, as a result decisions made will normally be based on one area of the corporation. It may perhaps lead to discrepancy and disorganization leading to expensive mistakes, ultimately employees could end up feeling frustrated.

On the contrary, having a clearly documented IT strategy will give every organisation the capability to make appropriate cost-effective related decisions. Most agree that there is no exact time to think about setting these specific plans into place; it varies from one company to the next. But when done early, the full potential of the business will be reached by the correct use of technology and the associated tools.




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