IT infrastructure plan is what sets an organization’s IT function and direction. With a proper IT strategy, a company can ensure that its IT spending creates great value for the company. 

You can read this article to discover the relevance of IT in today’s business world. When a proper strategy is in place, other plans of the business like asset management, project, human, risk, budget, and so on will also be properly catered to. The importance of this aspect of business cannot be overemphasized. 

Therefore, every business must have a properly laid out IT infrastructure strategy. So, in this article, we will discuss how to create one. But first, let us properly explain what an IT Strategy is. 

IT Strategy Plan – What Exactly It Is

An information technology strategy refers to a company’s IT department guiding document. This plan often explains the goals of the department, the strategies that are needed to actualize these goals, and how these strategies are implemented or executed. 

It may be divided into several sections with each section focusing on a particular strategy and activities through which the given strategy is implemented. The plan often addresses gaps that have been noticed in the current running and how these gaps can be bridged. 

Information Technology Strategy Plan – How to Create One 

Below are some steps to help you create your IT strategic plan:

1. Consider the Company’s Strategic Standpoint 

As we have said, a company’s IT unit has to provide optimum value to the company. Therefore, when thinking of a plan for the unit, the company’s strategic standpoint on acquisitions and mergers, global expansion, social media, customer satisfaction, revenue, cost reduction, and so on must be considered. 

Understanding the business direction will help you build the unit to encompass the drive and increase the unit’s value to the organization. You must consider the following as you make the plans:

  • The business’s direction
  • Their objectives and goals
  • Whether or not they intend to generate new revenue, sales channel, and customers, or if they wish to optimize cost
  • Their plan of action in detail
  • Their IT budget

2. Consider the IT’s Current State

Considering your unit’s current state will help you determine what needs to be improved in your IT infrastructure strategy. The report has to be checked daily and the data that is gotten should be properly reviewed. 

When this is done, you will find out things that are lacking in the unit. When you do, you can construct your plan to fix these lapses. Therefore, the actions and objectives should facilitate improvement. 

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3. Define the IT’s Future State

While you make plans for improvements, you should have a set goal. This is what will ensure that the plan maintains its direction in the long run. Budget and resource plans that will be achieved in the future have to be properly defined. 

Not only should you have future goals, the time at which these goals will be reached should also be considered. When it comes to budgeting, operational and capital expenditures should be properly distinguished. 

4. Provide and Measure Feedback

Once the plan is in place, your next need is a means to account for the action output as it relates to the business’s outcome. This way, the direction can be adjusted if the feedbacks aren’t favorable. 

Some questions that you need to consider in this case include:

  • Are our actions addressing the company’s priorities while offering our client’s proper value?
  • Can our tactics cater to both the future and current needs of the business?
  • Are we flexible and agile enough to support the organization successfully?
  • Are our technological investments right?
  • Is the information technology environment secured, maintained, cost-efficient, and well managed?

IT Strategy Plan – Components 

The following are the core components of an Information Technology Strategy:

  • Alignment with the company’s objectives and strategy
  • Long-term plans
  • Room for technological advancements: Technology plays a huge role when it comes to information technology. Technology is also constantly evolving to provide cheaper, faster, yet better services. To find out how technology has evolved and changed how we do things so far, check here: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/heres-how-technology-has-changed-and-changed-us-over-the-past-20-years/
  • Catalog for IT Services: This catalog must be in line with the business’s needs and should aim to fill in gaps. But, filling some gaps may be a lot harder and sometimes more expensive than filling others. 
  • Clear Communication: Proper and clear communication is very essential. Changes, reasons for the changes, current state, and so on must be properly communicated. However, be careful so that you do not over-message. When this happens, the messages may simply become ignored spam. 

Conclusion 

In this article, we have discussed IT strategy plan and how to create one. One thing that you must keep in mind as you embark on this process is to keep your company’s IT goals in mind.