DIGITAL ENABLED IT STRATEGY
The concept that digital enables IT strategy is not just an operational consideration; it’s a transformative philosophy that integrates technology deeply into the fabric of business strategy.
In the past, IT was often seen as a support function, isolated from core business operations. It focused on maintaining systems, ensuring uptime, and optimizing costs. Today, digital technology is the linchpin of business strategies. It’s about using technology not just to support business processes but to define them.
We help you develop a digital enabled IT strategy that will align your digital assets with the overall business goals and, hence – be an accelerator for your business and secure an IT set-up that is scalable, adaptable, and effective.
Key benefits
- Aligning digital strategy and IT strategy through objectives
- Clearly defined IT strategy streams
- Secure IT capabilities through skills mapping and planning
- Establish efficient resource management
A vision of a truely digital enabled business model probably requires a company and organization to work in fundamentally different ways.
Aligning digital strategy and IT strategy through objectives
In the realm of business, aligning IT objectives with digital strategy is crucial for achieving operational excellence and driving growth.
A set of digital strategy-aligned IT objectives ensures that an organization’s technology initiatives support its overarching digital goals, enhancing efficiency, competitiveness, and responsiveness to market changes.
This alignment is not static; it requires continuous adjustment and reassessment to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
At its core, aligning IT objectives with digital strategy involves understanding the organization’s digital vision, goals, and processes and then crafting IT objectives that support these elements. This alignment is critical because when IT and digital strategies are synchronized, technology becomes an enabler of digital success, rather than just a functional necessity.
Implementing these aligned IT objectives requires a five step strategic approach:
- Regular Communication: Regular dialogue between IT leaders and digital strategy executives ensures mutual understanding of goals and how IT can support them.
- Strategic Planning: Developing a comprehensive IT strategy that aligns with digital objectives and is adaptable to change.
- Resource Allocation: Allocating resources, both financial and human, effectively to support the aligned IT objectives.
- Performance Metrics: Establishing metrics to measure the effectiveness of IT in achieving digital goals.
- Change Management: Effectively managing the change that comes with implementing new digital technologies or processes.
Strategic IT Objectives
- Enhancing customer experience
- Increasing operational efficiency
- An IT-platform that supports an innovation culture
- Enabling data-driven decision making
- Maintaining security and compliance
- Enhancing employee productivity and collaboration
- Enabling scaling of business operations
- Reducing costs and increasing ROI
- Fostering a culture of continuous improvement
- Ensuring business continuity and disaster recovery
Clearly defined IT strategy streams
Each stream represents a specific domain of IT that aligns with the broader business objectives and addresses different aspects of an organization’s technology landscape. The concept of IT strategy streams helps organizations manage and prioritize various IT initiatives, ensuring that technology investments and developments are aligned with business goals and deliver value.
Each stream requires specialized knowledge and skills, and organizations often allocate dedicated resources and teams to manage them. The key to effective IT strategy is not just in developing initiatives within each stream, but also in ensuring that these streams are cohesively integrated and aligned with the overall business strategy. This holistic approach ensures that IT not only supports business operations but actively drives business growth and innovation.
IT Strategy Streams
- Infrastructure operations
- Cybersecurity & Risk Management
- Data Management & Data Analytics
- Digital transformation
- Application development and management
- Adopt emerging technologies to support the innovation processes and culture
- Governance & Compliance
- User Experience & Service Delivery
Secure IT capabilities through skills mapping and planning
The industry expects IT professionals to continuously update their skills in response to evolving technologies. This includes not just technical competencies but also an understanding of emerging technologies and their potential business applications.
Beyond technical expertise, there’s a growing expectation for IT professionals to possess strong business acumen. This involves understanding business models, strategic thinking, and the ability to align IT initiatives with broader business objectives.
Skills mapping is a strategic process used by organizations to assess and visualize the skills and competencies available within their workforce. This technique involves creating a detailed inventory of the skills each employee possesses, often categorized by role, department, or skill type. The primary goal is to identify skill gaps, overlaps, and areas for development, enabling more informed decision-making in areas such as hiring, training, and team formation. Skills mapping helps organizations align their human resources with their strategic objectives, plan for future needs, and enhance overall productivity by effectively deploying the right skills to the right projects or roles.
Effective communication and collaboration skills are crucial. IT professionals are expected to work seamlessly with cross-functional teams, clearly explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, and contribute to strategic discussions.
With increasing digitalization, there’s a heightened focus on data security and privacy. IT professionals must be proficient in cybersecurity measures, data governance, and compliance with regulations like GDPR and AI-Act.
IT Capabilities
- Technical & Cybersecurity Proficiency
- Cloud Computing
- Data Management & Data Analytics
- Networking & System Administration
- Software Development
- Collaborative project management
- Adaptability & Continuous Learning
- Trend analysis & Application
- Interdepartmental communication
- Regulatory compliance
Establish efficient resource management
Efficient resource management is a key element of a digital strategy and pivotal in digital transformation, optimizing investments and minimizing waste. By carefully allocating budgets, businesses can focus funds on strategic areas that yield the most significant benefits, ensuring financial resources are used effectively.
Human resources and time are crucial in digital initiatives. Proper management entails assigning appropriate tasks to skilled personnel and adhering to timelines. This approach prevents project delays and maintains momentum, leveraging the strengths of team members effectively.
Adaptability and risk mitigation are key in managing resources for digital projects. Quick resource reallocation in response to market shifts or focus on new technology areas (like AI) ensures continued relevance and sustainability. This agility helps in navigating risks and maintaining the viability of digital initiatives over time.
Resource Areas
Digital Strategy Resource Areas
- Digital talents
- Innovation budgets
- Digital platforms
- Customer data
- Online presence
IT Strategy Resource Areas
- IT Infrastructure
- Software Licenses and Subscriptions
- Cybersecurity Measures
- IT Personnel
- Technology R&D