Annual IT Planning: What’s Included

Succurri’s Annual IT Planning Review is a comprehensive process that evaluates the past year’s IT performance and sets the stage for the upcoming year’s strategic IT initiatives.

This review helps align IT activities with business objectives and ensures that the IT department is prepared to support the company’s growth and success. Here is an expanded view of each component in the review process:

1. IT Strategy and Alignment

Review IT Strategy: Assess how the IT strategy performed over the past year in supporting the overall business strategy and goals.

Identify Successes and Areas for Growth: Identify successful IT initiatives and areas for growth and improvement. Recognize achievements and areas that could benefit from additional focus.

Align with Business Strategy: Ensure that IT plans for the upcoming year are aligned with the business’s strategic direction and objectives. Prioritize IT initiatives based on their impact on business goals.

Stakeholder Feedback: Gather feedback from key stakeholders to understand their needs and expectations. This input helps guide IT strategy and priorities.

2. Technology Roadmap

Present Technology Roadmap: Share the technology roadmap for the upcoming year, outlining planned projects, initiatives, and investments.

Align IT Initiatives with Business Objectives: Ensure that the technology roadmap aligns with the company’s short- and long-term goals. This includes projects that drive innovation, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experiences.

Timeline and Milestones: Provide a timeline of key milestones and project phases for major IT initiatives, including start and end dates.

Resource Allocation: Allocate resources effectively across projects to maximize productivity and minimize disruption to ongoing operations.

3. IT Asset Lifecycle Management

Visualize Lifecycle Status: Present the lifecycle status of IT assets, including hardware and software. Identify assets at different stages, such as new, in use, or nearing end-of-life.

Identify Retirement or Upgrades: Identify assets that are due for retirement or upgrades in the upcoming year. Plan for replacements or improvements to maintain system performance and security.

Assess Impact on Budget: Evaluate the impact of asset management decisions on the IT budget and overall financial planning.

4. Long-Term Cost Trends

Analyze IT Spending: Review long-term trends in IT spending and budget utilization over the past few years. Compare actual costs to budgeted amounts.

Assess Technology Investments: Evaluate the impact of technology investments on overall business performance. Determine which investments have delivered the best returns.

Cost Optimization: Identify opportunities to optimize costs, such as consolidating vendors, reducing unnecessary expenses, or investing in cost-effective technologies.

5. Risk Assessment and Management

Review Risk Assessment Findings: Review findings from risk assessments conducted during the year, including potential threats and vulnerabilities.

Mitigation Strategies: Evaluate the effectiveness of risk management strategies implemented during the year. Identify any areas that require additional attention.

Plan for Risk Management: Develop a plan for risk management in the upcoming year, including measures to address identified risks and potential new threats.

6. Employee Training and Development

Track Training Progress: Assess the progress of IT training programs conducted during the year. Measure their impact on employee performance and productivity.

Identify Skill Gaps: Identify skill gaps in the IT team and areas where additional training or development is needed.

Opportunities for Development: Plan opportunities for employee development in the upcoming year, such as training sessions, certifications, or workshops.

Link Training to Business Goals: Ensure that training and development initiatives are aligned with business goals and IT strategy, focusing on skills that support the company’s objectives.

 

Management Tip

At the end of the year, we present a comprehensive summary of the key findings, recommendations, and action plans for the upcoming year.

Our Virtual CIOs facilitate open discussions with business executives and stakeholders to ensure alignment and buy-in for the proposed IT strategy.

This review sets the stage for a successful year ahead, driving innovation, efficiency, and growth for the company.

Contact us today for more information.