Understanding the Gap between Strategy and Execution

CEOs' want to do more with existing IT systems. Their priorities include integration, alignment and efficiency. At the same time, they expect IT to reduce costs. Only after these things are accomplished, do CEO's want to see IT generate growth and competitive advantage

CEOs' management priorities for IT

0. Align IT and business goals
0. Increase business efficiency through IT- enabled process improvement.
0. Create competitive advantage through IT
0. Improve internal customer (user) satisfaction
0. Control IT costs
0. Enable/enhance knowledge management and leverage intellectual assets
0. Develop staff/leadership/business skills within IT
0. Improve project management discipline
0. Measure and communicate bottom-line impact from IT
0. Ensure regulatory compliance
0. Ensure privacy of customer and employee data
0. Implement mechanisms for IT governance, portfolio management, etc. The top practices for creating IT value are all variations on working with business executives. When pressed however, many CIO's confess that they don't feel they're on an equal footing with their C-Level colleagues

CIOs' perspective of High-Impact practices for IT

0. Form healthy relationship with other CXOs
0. Join the executive team
0. Align IT objectives with the CEO's objectives and overall business strategy
0. Report to the CEO
0. Put financial controls in place / proactively manage risk
0. Communicate the financial impact of IT initiatives, including value and costs
0. Use sound governance methods for IT investment
0. Develop the business and leadership skills of IT staff

Source: CIO Magazine 

ALIGNING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY with BUSINESS

IT Business Alignment

·   Assess IT application portfolio

·   Evaluate IT support of business strategy

·   Define gap

·   Develop road map to align IT with business

·   Develop Business Case

·   Launch IT alignment and improvement process

IT Planning and Strategy

·   IT Priorities to support business strategy

·   Centralization and De-Centralization issues

·   Merger & Acquisition Due Diligence

·   Alignment of People, Process, & Technology

IT Organizational Effectiveness

·   Human Resource Assessment

·   Align IT resources with Business Strategy

·   Assess productivity levels

·   Assess organizational structure

·   Assess skills and recommend skill upgrades

·   Develop road map for training

·   Assist with top grading process

IT Program Management

·   IT Governance

·   Project Management Office

·   Vendor Management

·   Enterprise Software Evaluations

·   Software Product Lifecycle Management

·   Project Turnaround

IT Performance Improvement

·   Assess external vendor commitments

·   Assess IT spending and budget process

·   Assess prioritization process for IT projects

·   Establish process for IT Steering Committee

·   Assess Service Level Agreements (SLA’s)

·   Establish measurement system

The Value Drivers that are embedded into every Liberty Technology Advisors initiative:

·   Cost Reduction

·   Cost Controls

·   Revenue Enhancement

·   Security Improvement

·   Service Level Improvement

Aligning IT with Business Priorities Has Never Been More Difficult

The velocity of business change is increasing:

INTERNALLY
- Cost Pressures
- Price Inelasticity
- New Product Development
- Shadow IT Organizations

EXTERNALLY
- Supply Chain
- Customer Relationship Management
- Mergers & Acquisitions

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
- Sarbanes-Oxley
- HIPPA
- Security Exchange Commission
- Internal Revenue Service

The Liberty Technology Advisors Advantage

Maximize the investment in Information Technology