Business Performance and Technology Services
Information Technology Strategies – Do I need one?
By Mark Delane, Director
January 2012
Premier Alliance is committed to providing thought leadership through its 360 degree
Intelligence Delivery approach to consulting. This document will help businesses as they
consider whether to establish an Information Technology Strategy, and if they choose to
proceed, what will they need to consider.
Why would my business need an Information Technology Strategy? – This is a top-
of-mind question for both senior IT professionals and senior management of many
companies. Often this question surfaces as a result of systems issues that have surfaced
or due to questions from active Board Members. As with most issues, it is clearly senior
management’s role to anticipate both issues and opportunities, and create an action plan
to optimize business results.
There are a number of compelling proactive reasons to develop a comprehensive
Information Technology Strategy that justify making this more than a reactive exercise:
*Information is probably one of our most important assets. We live in a
technology and data driven society. Access to key information can often make the
difference in whether businesses are successful or fail. Acquiring, managing,
safeguarding and reporting information are critical for managers who need to make their
key business decisions on a timely basis. Without accurate information, managers are
like a pilot flying blind without instruments. Businesses plan for many other assets, why
shouldn’t they plan for an asset as critical as Information and the technology that
provides it?
*The Marketplace is changing at light speed. We are bombarded daily with
new hardware and software offerings from an ever-changing array of vendors.
Information technology is omnipresent in our lives. Devices that were formerly simple
telephones are now really small computers. We are all tethered to the Internet and live in
a technology-driven world where it is almost impossible for busy executives to stay
current with the technology changes around them. Are we ahead or behind our

competition? The answer to that key question can be found in an effective Information
Technology Strategy.
 Business Process Improvements can no longer be done without
corresponding Information Technology changes. All businesses need to
make regular process changes to keep up with changing customer demands.
Few processes today are purely manual and technology provides the key to
personnel efficiency. Unfortunately, technology changes often take significant
time to develop, test and implement. Management must therefore plan for
these needed process or business changes and ensure a forward looking Plan
has been developed to meet the business needs at an affordable cost.
 Acquisition and divestiture has become an everyday occurrence in
American business. With each of these major events, the new entity’s
business processes and systems will need to be harmonized or integrated with
the acquirer’s Information Technology. When Management does not
anticipate these events and prepared an Information Technology Strategic
Plan that provides the flexibility to meet these sudden, significant changes it
can have a significant adverse effect on the company’s stated objectives in
making the acquisition or divestiture.
If these situations resonate with your business, then what are the key considerations in
completing an Information Technology Strategic Plan? We believe management
should take the following into account:
 What are your 3-year Business Objectives?
 What is the quality and cost of your Information Technology people,
processes and systems today?
 Where is your Industry going in terms of technology?
 What major business changes do you anticipate?
 What are the expectations of your shareholders and Board?
 How do you increase assurance that you have sufficient security on your
information?
 How can you take advantage of emerging technologies?
 What major actions do you need to consider- and when, in order to have an
effective Technology approach?
 What should you plan to spend on Information Technology in the next 2 to 3
years?