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An organisational strategy is a key document. It helps you think about your people, operations, governance and service delivery.
In the past, technology was treated more as a tool, separate from the organisation’s strategic direction.
As the digital environment becomes more ingrained in all aspects of an organisation, this outdated way of planning is on its way out. It's time to integrate your information and communications technology (ICT) with your business goals for smarter decisions and a sustainable future.
It’s common to jump on the latest and greatest software package or update. Many have fallen for spending big on ICT trends. But modern ICT planning is more about making deliberate, informed decisions. When you think more strategically about ICT, and align this direction with your overall business strategy, you’re thinking holistically. You’re giving your organisation a better chance to achieve its goals efficiently and effectively.
So what does it mean to align your ICT direction with your broader organisational strategy? Why does it matter, and what are the risks if you don’t? With our decades of practical experience with government and corporate organisations, we can tell you this alignment is critical. And when it’s put into practice, your ICT investments have a much better chance of delivering real, measurable value.
Strategic alignment with ICT matters
Every organisation has a set of strategic goals – formal or otherwise. ICT should support and amplify these aims. Don’t make it a disconnected side project. Put your ICT thinking in line with business objectives. You’re far more likely to deliver the systems, capabilities, and efficiencies your team and customers need.
When ICT and organisational strategy aren’t thought of in tandem, technology decisions can quickly become fragmented. You might find yourself finding solutions on the fly. You could fall into the trap of buying technology for technology’s sake. And this can lead to a complex landscape of systems that don’t connect well, overlap in functionality, and don’t truly advance the organisation’s goals. The result? Wasted investment, frustrated staff, and missed opportunities for improvement.
What happens when ICT and organisational strategy align
When ICT direction and business strategy come together, you’re likely to see plenty of benefits:
- Your decisions about technology are guided by your broader vision, making it easier to prioritise what matters.
- Efficiency and effectiveness increase, because you chose core platforms that that address staff and customer needs. You’re less likely to duplicate or create siloed solutions.
- Technology investments remain relevant as the business evolves, supporting long–term growth. That’s good future proofing.
- A strategic approach provides a framework for decision–making and clear measures for success. It supports good governance and accountability.
A comprehensive strategy is one thing, but it also needs a clear ICT roadmap. The roadmap tells you the steps to get to your goals. A good example is the Australian Government’s data and digital strategy, which provides a blueprint for Australian Government agencies. It outlines what needs to be achieved as well as the practical steps and governance needed to get there.
The cost of when ICT and organisational strategy are disconnected
When ICT strategy is disconnected from business planning, it can be costly. You can end up with disconnected systems, where technology choices were made without reference to the organisational strategy. This creates inefficiency and user frustration.
Some organisations are prone to getting bogged down in heavy customisation of their systems to meet short–term needs. Doing so can make future upgrades and integrations difficult. Think of it as tinkering with a computer or device so much it can no longer accept software updates without major work. There comes a point where the road ends for updates – and you have to start all over again.
Each new, unaligned purchase is expensive by itself. But think of the cost when you duplicate capability or need expensive workarounds. Or a total overhaul of your systems.
It’s important to remember that ICT projects that are strategically guided are not only a better choice for the cost. They also help you deliver your intended benefits to staff, customers, and the business as a whole. Therefore, the cost of not doing this is far more than monetary.
Practical advice for a strategic approach
Your ICT strategy has the potential to drive your organisation’s success. Putting this into practice depends on your organisation’s size and intentions. These are some practical tips to get you thinking.
Align your timeframes so your ICT strategy’s timings matches the business plan. For example, if you work on a 5-year business strategy, your ICT plan should track with that same timeframe.
Just as you review your business strategy annually, take the time to revisit your ICT plan. Is it still delivering what you need? Are new challenges or opportunities emerging?
Avoid the trap of chasing ICT’s latest and greatest. Focus on solutions that address your key business challenges and fit with your overall mission, not just the new, shiniest thing on the market.
Invest in essential systems, like enterprise resource planning or customer relationship management systems, that will form the core of your organisation. These should support both staff operations and customer engagement.
Whenever possible, use the out-of-the-box capabilities from trusted sellers. Lots of customisation only stores up problems for the future. This makes it harder to adopt updates or integrate new technology.
Involve your internal stakeholders at all levels so you get to know their challenges and opportunities. Include people in the frontline to get the customer service perspective. The best ICT strategies are shaped by the people who will use and depend on the technology, not just by the IT or management teams.
We can’t stress this enough: make a clear roadmap. Your strategy should usable, and you do this by having a practical, high-level plan. Break this down into actions for workstreams and projects, showing how each contributes to your goals.
Communicate and engage so everyone is involved and invested in your ICT and business strategies. Use concise documents, placemat overviews, and regular updates to keep everyone informed.
Make sure you’re keeping track of what’s working, what’s not and why, so you can make informed decisions for future updates and changes. Measuring now can help you save later.
ICT strategy alignment is for everyone
Technology likely underpins most of what your organisation does. We’ve helped organisations of all sizes and industries build ICT strategies that have supported their organisation to meet their overall goals. In the long run, they feel safer for the future and have saved money in updates, upgrades and overhauls.
It doesn’t matter how big or small your organisation is, aligning ICT with your organisational strategy is a no-brainer. Take the time to plan thoughtfully, consult widely, and execute strategically. The benefits for your staff, customers, and bottom line will make the investment more than worthwhile.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about how RSM can help you, please reach out to your local RSM adviser.
