Page 26 - DCAP307_PLANNING_AND_MANAGING_IT_INFRASTRUCTURE

Planning and Managing IT Infrastructure

Notes same script”. Far more important than the strategic plan document, is the strategic planning
process itself.
Also, in addition to the size of the organisation, differences in how organisations carry out the
planning activities are more of a matter of the nature of the participants in the organisation —
than its for-profit/non-profit status.

Example: Detail-oriented people may prefer a linear, top-down, general-to-specific
approach to planning. On the other hand, rather artistic and highly reflective people may favour
of a highly divergent and “organic” approach to planning.

Strategic planning is extensively needed in the functioning of an IT company or any other
organisation because it helps managers identify desired outcomes and formulate feasible plans
to achieve their objectives by using available resources and capabilities. Strategic planning
must take into account that the organisation and everything around it is changing:
A consumer like and dislikes change.

Old competitors leave and new one entered marketplace.
The cost and availability of raw materials and labour fluctuate.
The degree of industry and government regulation changes.

Example: If an IT company or any other organisation wants to make software or any
product, then it also uses the strategic planning to achieve the more effective results by defining
the vision of the organisation, identifying the objectives and goals that support the vision and
setting strategies to achieve the goal and identify the initiatives and project.

A comprehensive IT strategic plan generally contains the following:
Mission and vision statements
Organisational values
Stakeholders analysis

Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis
Identification of key goals, objectives, strategies and associated action plans
Identification of performance indicators

Notes The development of a plan requires much probing, discussion, and examination of
the views of the leaders who are responsible for the plan’s preparation. However, more
often than not, the development of the plan is less complicated than is the implementation.

Caselet Put IT Plan in Corporate Strategy

HAT happens when managers are overwhelmed by the rapidity and scale of
change in IT? To baffle them is the dilemma: “Should we adopt the new
Wtechnology and take a risk of failure, or forego the new technology and miss
an opportunity to add business value?”
Contd....

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