Clarkston IT Expert Shares Commentary on Designing a Successful IT Roadmap
September 6, 2023 | James Savage, Client Solutions Manager at Clarkston Consulting, shared a commentary published in Information Week. Read an excerpt below and the full article here.
Building an IT Roadmap Today for the Future
How can your organization design a roadmap that allows its IT department to navigate a potentially disruptive future?
Today’s IT departments across industries are facing all sorts of challenges such as aging and highly customized systems, a saturated and scattered technology marketplace, competitive labor markets, increased volumes of data — the list goes on. This has led many organizations to focus almost solely on keeping the lights on and navigating today’s issues, rather than building and executing a roadmap for long-term stability and turning their technology landscape into a competitive advantage.
Time and time again, clients have expressed apprehension about taking a bold approach to modernizing their IT department because they simply don’t have the margin for mistakes. That is why we always suggest they need a well-defined IT strategy and roadmap.
A strategic IT roadmap can serve as a “north star,” giving clarity not just on where you want to go as a department, but also providing insight into the tangible steps and initiatives needed to get there. Building an IT roadmap can feel overwhelming, but if done correctly, the initial build is the biggest step. Below, I outline seven strategies to help organizations create a roadmap today that positions their IT department for success in the future.
- Keep an eye on emerging technologies.
- Foster a culture of innovation.
- Embrace Agile methodologies.
- Develop a business continuity plan.
- Invest in training and development.
- Collaborate with other departments.
- Stay focused on the big picture.