Sometimes an organization’s IT issues are readily evident - the technology is outdated, the server is inadequate, or employees lack training. But in other cases, optimizing an IT environment to meet the business’ strategic goals isn’t quite so straightforward.
This is where an IT assessment becomes valuable. But what exactly is an IT assessment, what are its benefits and why is conducting one so important?
The IT Assessment Explained
An IT assessment involves mapping out an organization’s current information technology situation, and then determining the future state IT environment. An IT assessment team will recommend what steps to take to more effectively align IT to achieve the efficiencies envisioned by the business. The assessment includes, but is not limited to the following components:
Leadership, management, organization, and governance;
Strategy and plans;
Skills and competencies;
Application and data architecture and solutions;
Network and communication architecture and performance;
Infrastructure and data center operations;
IT processes, methods and tools;
Vendor arrangements and Service Level Agreements (SLAs);
Disaster recovery planning and backup solutions;
Emerging technology assessment and reviews; and
Budgets and investment plans.
More specifically, an IT review should answer the following questions:
Is IT aligned to support the business goals and business operating model of the organization?
Are the current IT strategies and processes appropriate and how should they evolve over the next few years to address areas such as communication, governance, and providing innovative solutions;
Are there areas where IT can better manage support to customer and core operations;
Is the technology platform and architecture sufficiently robust to support anticipated growth over the next few years;
Is the current IT organization effectively aligned to the key business functions and are there opportunities for improvement;
Are current IT expenditure levels appropriately focused on cost/benefit and what future funding levels should be anticipated over the next few years; and
Are the IT risks acceptable and manageable both now and over the next few years?
The review involves looking at the technology and systems in place and the overall cost structure of the IT group, to determine if it’s in line with both current and future company strategy.
Why Is Conducting an IT Business Assessment Important?
Conducting an IT assessment is particularly important when there has been a change in senior management, a change in business direction, or when the marketplace commands that innovative ways of doing business are required. The IT assessment will help your organization explore innovative ways of improving its return on IT investments and enabling improved business performance.
The Litcom Approach
Discovering potential issues and risks before they can cause a project to fail or be delayed—is the driving force behind an IT assessment. Our IT assessment not only plays an integral role in providing a snapshot of your company’s technology capability; it also provides your organization perspective on the effectiveness of its systems, staff, budget, vendors, procedures and company policies. At Litcom, we recognize that maximizing your technology investment and efficiently supporting the business is the path to competitive advantage. We can help you improve technology ROI and align IT investments with your overall business strategy.
Litcom’s IT assessment service will help your organization improve technology ROI and align IT investments with your overall business strategy. Our assessment will help you better understand and take action to:
- Ensure effective leadership, management and governance of the IT function;
- Reduce IT risks and exposures;
- Control costs and decrease project and other investment overruns;
- Improve security and disaster recovery processes; and
- Build improved capability to successfully deliver projects on time and on budget.