Why An IT Strategy Is Vital For Holding A Competitive Advantage

By Floyd Grant


The modern world changes so fast that even the most dedicated technology freaks struggle to keep up. New devices and software programs appear almost every day and information technology specialists have their hands full to keep their organizations on the forefront of technology. Without a comprehensive IT strategy, however, no business or organization can hope to take maximum advantage of the latest technology.

Strategic planning is a difficult task. Such plans must take cognizance of the current state of the political, technological and financial environments, among others, and to identify trends and new developments. These new trends are then analyzed and plans are made to use those changes to the advantage of the organization. It requires a very high level of skills to develop proper and valid strategic plans.

Information technology departments are particularly challenged when developing strategic plans. The changes in this field can be bewildering and it is extremely difficult to keep track of new developments. Predicting future trends is even more difficult. Many developers keep their new products under wraps as long as possible in order to avoid alerting competitors. Developing strategic plans for information technology remains a very high priority, however.

There are many good reasons why organizations simply have no choice other than to keep their information technology up to date. New releases of software and new devices are often incompatible with older versions, rendering the organization unable to share data and to link up with other systems. New technology also often provides new methods of communication and even marketing and it is imperative to keep up to date simply to remain competitive.

Many large organizations have permanent staff that manages their information technology strategic plans. This is necessary because these plans need to be updated constantly in order to make provision for new developments or changes in the technological environment. Not organization can afford to be caught napping and that requires constant vigilance. Strategic thinks need to be a little like a clairvoyant, but they need to be able to alter policies in reaction to change.

No strategic plan can be complete without a realistic implementation plan. This can be extremely complex because it needs to involve budgeting, purchasing of equipment, the design of new user manuals and training for the users of the new technology. In many cases it is also necessary to prepare staff for the upgrades and to make sure that existing data is safe.

People with all the required skills to manage an information technology strategic plan are scarce and highly sought after. Such a person needs to be trained in various fields, including technology, management, managed services and leadership. The appointee often has to lead teams that consist of professionals that are all experts in their own right.

Keeping abreast of new developments in the field of information technology is difficult and expensive. It is vital to have an IT strategy that will allow the organization to maintain a cutting edge. Mistakes can be extremely costly and that is why strategic plans need to be reviewed continuously. This requires willingness to change and the ability to budget for regular upgrades.




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