What do you do if your IT strategy is outdated and you need to prepare for the future?

Begin with a thorough assessment of your current IT infrastructure, systems, and strategies to identify areas that are outdated or no longer serve the organization's needs effectively. Consider both the technological aspects and how well the IT strategy aligns with the overall business goals.

I suggest engaging third party to conduct and IT Audit: - Review existing IT infrastructure, applications, and services. Identify technologies that are outdated, underutilized, or no longer serve the business needs. - Measure the performance and costs associated with current IT assets. This helps in understanding inefficiencies and areas requiring improvement. - dentify security vulnerabilities, compliance issues, and other risks associated with current IT practices.

Recognising that the digital landscape evolves rapidly, I advocate adopting an agile mindset in software development and IT strategic planning. This involves iterative assessments and updates to the IT strategy, ensuring it remains aligned with current technological trends and business goals. Furthermore, I emphasise the importance of fostering a culture that values continuous learning and adaptability among IT staff. This approach prepares an organisation to respond swiftly to technological changes and positions it to leverage emerging technologies proactively. Lastly, exploring partnerships with technology providers can offer insights into new solutions and best practices, enhancing the organisation's competitive edge

Involve stakeholders from various departments to understand business goals, challenges, and opportunities where IT can play a role. Ensure that the IT strategy is aligned with the overall business strategy, supporting current and future objectives.

I use Gartner and HBR to stay informed about the latest trends in technology and how they are being adopted in industry. I look at how competitors and industry leaders are leveraging technology. This can provide insights into strategic investments and technologies that are proving valuable in your sector.

Stay informed about the latest trends and innovations in technology that are relevant to your industry. This could include developments in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. Understanding these trends will help you identify opportunities for integration into your IT strategy.

Conduct a thorough analysis of the existing skills within your IT team and identify gaps relative to the new strategic direction. Develop customized training plans for different roles within the IT department. Recognize that one size does not fit all, and tailor training to meet the specific needs and skill levels of each team member. Focus on emerging technologies that are crucial to your updated IT strategy, such as cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain. Providing access to the latest learning resources in these areas will be key.

Consider the cultural and organizational impact of updating your IT strategy. Effective change management practices can help ease the transition and ensure buy-in from stakeholders. Additionally, explore partnerships with technology providers and consultants who can offer expertise and support. Finally, foster a culture of innovation within your organization that encourages continuous improvement and adaptability in your IT strategy. By following these steps, you can ensure that your IT strategy is not only updated to meet current needs but also positioned to take advantage of future technological advancements, driving your organization forward in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Engaging external experts, advisors, or consultants can be a transformative step for updating your IT strategy and preparing for future challenges.

At least four causes makes an IT strategy obsolete: radical change in the business model, changes at the C-level, M&A and lack of strategic capabilities and business governance. The additional causes that evokes generating a new IT strategy must be analyzed. If, for example, an IT project fails or if a business service does not produce the expected business results (e.g. less sales), the cause is not necessarily a failed IT strategy. A starting point to evaluate the performance of the IT Strategy is the quality of IT Services. If the organization functions reactively a different IT strategy may need to be considered, for which a joint and effective organizational exercise is always recommended.