Where Does Technology Fit in a Strategic Plan?
Kristin Arnold
Facilitating and training your teams to achieve extraordinary results, processes, and relationships through in-person and virtual retreats and meetings
After facilitating over a hundred strategic planning sessions, one question always comes up: “Where does technology fit in a strategic plan?”
Some believe it should be its own strategic initiative or objective. Others argue that technology is so deeply integrated into everything a business does that it doesn’t make sense to call it out separately.
The answer I give my clients is: it depends.
When technology is a major project—like implementing a new ERP system—or driving a significant part of the business direction, such as digital transformation, it may warrant its own strategic initiative. These are big, important pieces of the strategy puzzle, and treating them as stand-alone objectives ensures they get the attention and resources they deserve.
More often than not, technology is a critical enabler woven through multiple initiatives. In this case, I recommend acknowledging its role within the plan. For example, if one initiative is to improve customer experience, note how technology—such as a CRM system or an AI chatbot—can play a supporting role.
But here’s the key: even if technology isn’t a stand-alone strategic initiative, every company should have a separate, dedicated Technology Plan—just as companies often have HR/Talent plans and Operations plans. This “bolt-on” Technology Plan, typically owned by the CTO, CIO, or other leader who owns “technology,” ensures the organization has a focused roadmap for IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, system upgrades, and other technology priorities.
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Technology is too important to leave unaddressed, but how it shows up in your strategic plan depends on your specific goals and challenges. Whether it’s a stand-alone initiative or integrated into everything you do, the key is to be intentional about its role.
So, ask yourself: where does technology fit in your strategic plan? And if it’s not clear yet, maybe it’s time to figure that out.