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Developing a robust IT strategy starts with gathering authentic stakeholder feedback, so I combine structured interviews to uncover specific pain points, data-driven surveys to capture broad user sentiment, and dynamic focus groups that spark rich discussions—ensuring every decision is anchored in solid data while remaining truly human-centric.

Forget generic surveys—real feedback comes from seeing how people actually work. Shadow users, sit in on team meetings, and watch where tech creates friction. Look for workarounds—because if people are bypassing a system, it’s failing them. Ask: What’s the most annoying thing you have to do every day? That’s where the real insights hide. The best IT strategy doesn’t just check stakeholder boxes—it solves real problems.

? Align IT Goals with Business Objectives: Use TOGAF’s Business Architecture, BIZBOK… to map user needs to strategic IT initiatives. ? Implement Continuous Feedback Loops: Apply Agile, Lean, and EA frameworks like TOGAF and BIZBOK for iterative strategy adjustments. ? Leverage Sentiment Analysis: Utilize AI-driven tools to analyze feedback from surveys, support tickets, and collaboration platforms. ? Establish User Advisory Boards: Engage stakeholders through EA governance boards and business capability mapping. ? Use Data-Driven Decision Making: Correlate user feedback with analytics, performance metrics, and capability models. ? Foster Transparent Communication: Share IT strategy progress using TOGAF’s Architecture Vision, BIZBOK…

Using lessons learned at the team, section, and department level is a powerful way to refine your IT strategy and ensure it aligns with user needs while fostering continuous improvement. Team Level Conduct Retrospectives - After completing a project or milestone, hold a retrospective meeting to discuss what went well, what didn’t, and what could be improved. Document these insights. Section Level Focus on collaboration - Address lessons related to communication or collaboration barriers between teams, and implement solutions like shared dashboards, regular sync-ups, or collaboration platforms. Department Level Create a Feedback Loop - Establish a formal process for collecting, analyzing, and acting on lessons learned across.