Business Consulting Services
IT Strategy Method
Overview
Slide deck
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2004
Business Consulting Services
Although each IT strategy approach has its own specificities,
several key questions are recurring
A. What’s the B. Which IT-
current IT and business
Key IT strategy related
questions to review
business C. Which scenarios D. For the chosen aligned vision
context? can be defined to scenarios, what does do we want to
close the gap, and it mean define for the
which scenario are financially and how future?
most valuable? should we plan it?
2 IBM Confidential | October, 2004 © Copyright IBM Corporation 2004
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Several building blocks supported by frameworks do help
consultants in analyzing each of these key questions
Key IT strategy related
A&B. What’s the current C. Which scenarios can be D. For the chosen
questions to review
IT context and where do defined to close the gap, and scenarios, what does it
we want to be in the which scenario are most mean financially and how
future? valuable? should we plan it?
3. Building the strategic
1. Analysis & Vision 2. Strategy Design
roadmap
Scenario development
Current state Conceptual Program
Program planning
analysis Architecture Portfolio
Program set up
and evaluation
Gap analysis
IT visioning & IT Investment
Business alignment Organization analysis
3 IBM Confidential | October, 2004 © Copyright IBM Corporation 2004
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Each strategy step requires several key strategic inputs delivered
either by the customer, market analysts or thought leaders
3. Building the strategic
1. Analysis & Vision 2. Strategy Design
roadmap
Current IT situation Best practices
Target organization and
Scenario development
Conceptual
Business strategy &
Business requirements
Current state Program
Program planning
architecture of the
core processes
selected scenario
analysis Architecture Portfolio
Program set up
and evaluation
Gap analysis
and priorities
IT visioning & IT Investment
Business alignment Organization analysis
Business Integration of know how about
& technology trends environment & stakeholders
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Architecture, IT Organization and Value are 3 key views to be
kept in mind throughout the steps of an IT strategy assignment
Architectural
IT Strategy approach
Applications
view
Technology
Information 1. Analysis & Vision 2. Strategy Design
3. Building the strategic
roadmap
Governance
IT Organizational
Scenario development
Current state Conceptual Program
IT Organization
Program planning
analysis Architecture Portfolio
Program set up
and evaluation
Gap analysis
view
IT Services
IT Processes
People Manag./capab. IT visioning & IT Investment
Business Organization analysis
alignment
IT Value
Value
view
IT Costs
IT Investments
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IT strategists need to apply specific competencies depending
on the assignment phase they’re engaged in
3. Building the strategic
1. Analysis & Vision 2. Strategy Design
roadmap
IT Strategy Approach
Program planning
Current state Program
development and
Conceptual
Program set up
Gap analysis
analysis Architecture Portfolio
evaluation
Scenario
IT visioning & IT Investment
Business alignment Organization analysis
IT Alignment
Main Competencies
Scenario planning.
IT Value/ Value Analysis
Sourcing IT IT Investment
IT Innovation Management
IT Planning
On Demand
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Several key components are used to analyze the
current and the future state depending on the
customer’s priorities and focus
1. Analysis & Vision
Current IT situation
Current state analysis
IT management & structure IT resources & skills
Business and technology
Business requirements
IT projects IT systems & technology
IT costs IT services & sourcing
and priorities
Gap analysis
strategy
IT vision and IT/Business alignment
Understanding
Definition of Deriving IT needs from High level
business strategy &
positioning IT strategic business drivers business
founding driven
Understanding principles & options /
technological strategy Enabling business
guidelines support through better IT vision
& positioning
Market & business trends
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Scenarios development and evaluation must often
combine both conceptual and organizational
considerations
2. Strategy Design
Environment and stakeholders
Conceptual Architecture
Application architecture
Scenario development
and evaluation
Business requirements
Technology architecture
Target IT organization
the selected scenario
and IT architecture of
Information architecture Customer specific
and priorities
scenario development
IT Organization
Steering / governance Scenario risk analysis
IT organization / structure
Scenario evaluation and
IT services & sourcing decision
IT processes
People management
Best practices
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Finalizing an IT strategy requires the definition of a
program portfolio, with its related investments and plans
3. Building the strategic roadmap
Program portfolio Planning Program
Business project set up
portfolio
Target organization and
Finalized and complete
architecture of the
selected scenario
IT project portfolio Project Investment and
IT Strategy
prioritization budget planning
and project
Investment analysis interdependencies Project / Program
check planning
Cost evaluation
Business case for key
projects
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