How can you avoid common pitfalls when developing an IT Strategy Business Case?

1 Define the problem and the opportunity

The first pitfall to avoid is presenting your IT Strategy Business Case as a solution without clearly defining the problem and the opportunity. You need to articulate the current state of your IT capabilities, the gaps and challenges that prevent you from achieving your business objectives, and the benefits and outcomes that you expect from your IT Strategy. You also need to identify the key stakeholders, their needs and expectations, and how your IT Strategy Business Case will address them. By defining the problem and the opportunity, you can set the context and the scope of your IT Strategy Business Case and establish a clear link between your IT investments and your business value proposition.

2 Assess the alternatives and the risks

The second pitfall to avoid is proposing your IT Strategy Business Case as the only option without assessing the alternatives and the risks. You need to compare your IT Strategy Business Case with other possible scenarios, such as doing nothing, doing the minimum, or doing something different. You also need to evaluate the costs, benefits, feasibility, and impact of each alternative, and explain why your IT Strategy Business Case is the best choice. Moreover, you need to identify the potential risks and uncertainties that could affect your IT Strategy Business Case, such as technical, financial, operational, or organizational risks, and how you plan to mitigate them. By assessing the alternatives and the risks, you can demonstrate that you have considered all the relevant factors and that you have a realistic and viable IT Strategy Business Case.

4 Align with the strategic vision and the governance framework

The fourth pitfall to avoid is presenting your IT Strategy Business Case as a standalone project without aligning with the strategic vision and the governance framework. You need to align your IT Strategy Business Case with your organization's mission, vision, values, and goals, and show how it supports and enables your business strategy and priorities. You also need to align your IT Strategy Business Case with your IT governance framework, and show how it follows and complies with your IT policies, standards, processes, and best practices. You should also identify the roles and responsibilities, the decision-making criteria, and the performance indicators for your IT Strategy Business Case, and how you will monitor and report on its progress and outcomes. By aligning with the strategic vision and the governance framework, you can ensure that your IT Strategy Business Case is consistent and coherent with your organization's culture and expectations.

5 Communicate with clarity and confidence

The fifth pitfall to avoid is presenting your IT Strategy Business Case as a technical document without communicating with clarity and confidence. You need to communicate your IT Strategy Business Case in a clear, concise, and compelling way, using plain language, simple graphics, and relevant examples. You need to tailor your message to your audience, using different formats and channels, such as executive summaries, presentations, reports, or dashboards. You need to highlight the key messages, the main benefits, and the critical success factors of your IT Strategy Business Case, and address any questions or concerns that your audience may have. You also need to communicate with confidence, showing your enthusiasm, commitment, and credibility for your IT Strategy Business Case, and inspiring your audience to support and approve it. By communicating with clarity and confidence, you can persuade and influence your stakeholders and secure their buy-in and endorsement for your IT Strategy Business Case.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?