Creating a strategy for your organisation’s IT is – and always has been – a complex piece.
Back in March I was asking you to think about the ongoing needs of your business, including how to create agility within systems which are part of your legacy. So where were you on that journey? And how far have you moved from that course?
Innovation within any business will follow a certain direction and pace. Whether it’s incremental (using existing technology to develop new opportunities within your own market) or radical (developing new technologies for use in new markets), for innovation to be successful it needs a strategy. Once that path has been defined, however, unforeseen change can take you off your planned course – what is important is that you recognise the altered direction, knowing how to plot your next steps to return to those original goals.
Is it Transformation or Revolution?
It may be that your current position isn’t that far from your planned destination.
•Your workforce is more agile
•Your communications are happening online
•Your productivity levels have increased and
•Your controls are embracing new levels of flexibility.
But is that a fair picture?
What has been lost to achieve this dynamic change? Are you confident in your processes and security? Those things which were dictating your pace of change last year are likely still a concern and it’s essential your future position takes account of these risks.
Taking steps back to your Transformation Path
Whatever progress you’ve made towards your IT transformation goals, this hasn’t been lost. But to ensure you get the results you originally planned for, it may be necessary to revisit those plans.
Discovery
Review your current business and digital context. Take account of changes which have occurred since your transformation project first started – this is your new starting point. While your digital workspace and processes may have shifted, consider again the overall objectives of the wider IT strategy to ensure you stay in line with plans which will shape the future of the business.
This stage of your transformation needs to take account of those things which are fundamental to your organisation – the values and goals, drivers and objectives of the whole company. It’s essential to keep sight of this big picture to maintain relevance and keep everyone on board.
Definition
Once your ‘As Is’ has been identified, it is time to consider how you would like to shape the future.
Ensure you are working with the right people within your business to identify those areas between your current position and your goals. But don’t miss out on opportunities which will only be recognised by those able to look further afield, seeing potential growth in the future which those closer to the ground may be unable to see.
Only by recognising a broader vision for the future will you create new opportunities, alongside identifying the constraints you face, these are an essential part of defining your strategy.
Development
Having established the plans for your future digital workspace, the next step is to create your strategy.
You may have done this before, and that means you’re able to review and restart much of your previous plan. Recognising here – as you will have done in the previous steps – how far you have come from your original starting point, should provide some positive recognition for everyone involved.
While it may feel that your original IT strategy has been upturned and lost momentum, it is likely you have continued to make progress in the right direction despite changed circumstances. And if you can’t see the way back to your strategy without help, get in touch. It would be great to talk.
Written by Terry Chana, Workspace Solutions Director @ XMA.
Related pages: https://www.xma.co.uk/hybrid-workspace/
