How do you improve your IT strategy using past feedback?

1 Define your feedback criteria

Before you solicit or analyze any feedback, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to measure and why. This will help you focus on the most relevant and actionable information, and avoid getting overwhelmed by irrelevant or contradictory data. You can use various frameworks and tools to define your feedback criteria, such as SMART goals, OKRs, KPIs, or SWOT analysis. For example, you can set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for your IT strategy, and then use key performance indicators to track your progress and outcomes.

2 Collect feedback from multiple sources

To get a comprehensive and balanced view of your IT strategy, you need to collect feedback from multiple sources, both internal and external. This can include your IT team, your business partners, your customers, your vendors, your competitors, and your industry peers. You can use different methods and channels to gather feedback, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, reviews, reports, benchmarks, or best practices. However, you should also ensure that you have a consistent and transparent process for collecting and storing feedback, and that you respect the privacy and confidentiality of your respondents.

3 Analyze feedback objectively and systematically

Once you have collected enough feedback, you need to analyze it objectively and systematically, and look for patterns, trends, and insights. You can use various techniques and tools to analyze feedback, such as data visualization, sentiment analysis, gap analysis, root cause analysis, or cost-benefit analysis. For example, you can use data visualization to display your feedback data in charts, graphs, or dashboards, and then use sentiment analysis to gauge the emotions and opinions of your respondents. You should also compare your feedback results with your feedback criteria, and identify any gaps or discrepancies.

4 Implement feedback strategically and iteratively

After you have analyzed your feedback, you need to implement it strategically and iteratively, and make adjustments to your IT strategy accordingly. You should prioritize the most important and urgent feedback items, and create a realistic and feasible action plan to address them. You should also communicate your feedback findings and actions to your stakeholders, and seek their buy-in and support. Moreover, you should monitor and evaluate the impact of your feedback implementation, and collect new feedback to validate your changes and identify new opportunities for improvement.

5 Learn from feedback continuously and proactively

Finally, you need to learn from feedback continuously and proactively, and use it as a source of learning and innovation for your IT strategy. You should not treat feedback as a one-time event, but as an ongoing cycle of planning, executing, reviewing, and refining. You should also not wait for feedback to come to you, but actively seek it out and solicit it from diverse and relevant sources. Furthermore, you should not be afraid of negative or constructive feedback, but embrace it as a chance to grow and excel.

Feedback is a powerful tool for improving your IT strategy, but only if you use it effectively. By following these tips, you can leverage past feedback to enhance your performance, align your goals, and create value for your stakeholders.