The ICT strategy or plan includes areas of strategic technology capability and how the implementation of various technological capabilities will enable the business or digital vision. It defines the ICT plan of action designed to achieve the ICT related aims of the ICT organisational unit(s) in support the business direction of the agency.
An ICT strategic plan is usually developed by an agency’s ICT organisational unit and sponsored by the Chief Customer and Digital Officer or Executive in charge of that organisational unit. The development of an ICT strategy or plan is iterative and my need to undergo several rounds of consultation with stakeholders.
The strategy or plan should be completed by a team of people with experience and knowledge in the following areas:
This will ensure the ICT strategy or plan is relevant to an ICT organisation or work area’s business customers.
The purpose and core elements of an ICT strategy are summarised below.
Core element
Definition
The vision statement conveys how the ICT organisation is going to support the business and digital aspirations of the agency. A vision statement should:
Service delivery vision
This section confirms the transformation of business services and may include several perspectives such as staff, information managers, technology service partners, vendors, start-ups and innovators. It should provide a narrative for how future technology services will be delivered or enabled to underpin the service and digital service aspirations of the agency.
This section of the strategy or plan conveys how the ICT strategic direction aligns to the broader business or digital strategic direction of the organisation.
Issues and challenges
This section outlines the current ICT challenges and issues that are providing the driver for change or inhibiting the agency’s ability to take advantage of opportunities, or respond to the new emerging technologies. This section should establish clearly why new investment in technology capability is required or why the way in which technology services are delivered, needs to change.
This section includes the digital or ICT principles. The principles may guide behaviour with respect to using and managing technology and information, guide decision making with respect to investing in technology capability or guide the design of systems and practices.
This section includes the objectives identified in the visioning activities and convey specific and measurable changes that will occur over the lifespan of the planning document. These objectives can be ICT service related, information related, workforce related or technology related. This section may convey the key success factors that are required to fulfil the vision.
Strategies or focus areas
This section includes the specific strategies that will be required to improve the overall technology and information management capability of the organisation. It can also include strategies for changing how the technology and information services of the organisation will be managed in future. It may also address how the organisation intends to plan for, acquire or grow new ICT skills in response to a changing technology or information environment.
This section describes the major technology trends and capability that are required to underpin digital service delivery. This section should reinforce the current or emerging technology capability required to reshape the way business services are delivered.
These technologies should include the foundational technologies and capability required to support an evolving and expanding network and systems platform. It should also include those technologies or capabilities currently in use, that will be further leveraged, optimised or enhanced to deliver broader business value. Finally, this section should include details of new or emerging technologies that will be required to transform the services of the organisation.
Business outcomes and benefits
This section includes the desired business outcomes Where possible, key performance indicators should also be included.