ProjectNews September Newsletter: The IT Key to Your Organization's Future Success

Challenge:
Right now, most IT executives are reducing spending to only the critical costs for day to day operations. Smart, effective IT leaders know that now is the time to prepare for the future, for when the economy turns around. But how can you prepare your organization now for success once things turn around?

Stakeholders:
CIOs and strategic decision makers within your organization

Overview:
According to Bob Riddell and Eric Ullman, IT Consultants with Alvarez & Marsal Business Consulting, there are 6 key areas to evaluate for success.

1. Evaluate applications that are being used in your business. Make sure that they are providing the level of service you need. If you need to, this is the time to look at lower cost options, or consolidate your current business applications.
2. Assess your current IT asset utilization. Are you using all of the services you are contracted for? Are you making the most of your network and server capacity? If not, now may be the perfect time to negotiate rates for new services and contracts.
3. Solidify your governance process. Take this time to review your organization's project approval process and make certain that your team members can create and successfully evaluate business cases.
4. Train your team to increase their skill-level. Take this time to add to your IT team's skill set. Define the skills that your organization needs and train or hire the right people to get the job done.
5. Review IT's value to your business. Figure out the level of IT processes and services that your organization actually uses - Are you spending enough or too much? Now is the time to do the research and review the value of IT to your business and make adjustments.
6. Create a plan that mitigates future risk. Success is a result of constant planning and assessment. If an IT project is not progressing in the way that it was expected , have a contingency plan as a back-up.

Overview:
Moving forward CIOs need to work together with their business leaders and IT executives to streamline and simplify the way projects and jobs are completed, to ensure project efficiency and success. By taking the time to assess your plans now, you are leaving your organization open to profitability when the economy turns around.


Conclusions based on the August 11th article, "Six Ways to Prepare for a Better Future" from www.baselinemag.com.

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