Your IT department should be more than just the entity that solves tech problems for your business. On the contrary, it can be a crucial element of your company that can not only solve problems, but furthers your company’s goals.
However, to do this you need an IT strategy. By implementing an IT strategy, you’re not only creating a more proactive problem-solving approach, but allowing your IT department to directly support your company’s goals.
So, we know why you should create an IT strategy, but how are you going to do it? I have determined five practical components to an IT strategy, which you can begin implementing today (unsurprisingly, they all involve stronger company communication).
Compile feedback from leadership
If you’re interested in having your IT department help your company reach its goals, you first need to define those goals. What is your mission? Who is your target? The idea is simple enough. If you want your IT department to support your goals, leadership must first decide what those goals are.
Compile feedback from IT
After you’ve decided on a direction for your company, bring it to your IT department or provider and let them tell you how they can best support that direction. Instead of telling the tech people how they can help you, let the tech people decide how they can use their own expertise for the benefit of your company.
Assess and adjust
The rest of your staff, especially sales and customer service, are some of the first people you should talk to about how effective your IT strategy is. They’re experiencing the new IT strategy firsthand, so they have some valuable feedback regarding what’s working and what isn’t. Bonus points if you gather feedback from customers, too.
Use quantitative data to gauge effectiveness
Numbers don’t tell you everything, but they do tell you some things. Use specific analytics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of your IT strategy.
Create a practical plan of action
Finally, get everyone on the same page by creating a plan of action to which everybody contributes. Everyone on your team should know what their role is in accomplishing your company strategy. In short, create a roadmap for your strategy.
By following these five steps, you will begin to see your IT department or provider shift from problem-solver to an integral part of your company’s mission.
