IT’s strategic plan is an essential tool to run IT like a business. The strategic plan for today’s IT is different from the strategic plans that IT may have developed in the past. It is purpose-driven and a complement to IT governance structures and processes. The structure and content are tailored to this purpose, avoiding the sprawling documents that tried to cover every possible input and aspect of IT strategy. And today’s plan must be a living document, with regular review and updating, thereby providing long-term direction while maintaining relevancy.

Strategic information technology planning (SITP) is a process that seizes the potential of technologies. SITP plans are imbedded in your mission and fully integrated into your overall business strategic plan. The SITP planning process ensures that you will clarify technology goals and establish priorities, organize stakeholders and create evaluation systems - all before making hardware, software or Internet presence decisions.

Why a Information Technology Plan?

Use technology effectively to further your mission. The technology planning process can help you see new ways in which technology can further your mission. Buy the right equipment. Purchasing hardware, software and networking equipment can be overwhelming. If you don't plan, it's easy to end up with something that is way too complicated or doesn't do what you need it to. There's no substitute for thinking through your goals and researching possible solutions.

Save money. You probably do not need the fanciest system on the market. Planning allows you to figure out how to spend less and still meet your needs.

Avoid crises. Bad technology decisions can leave you suffering for years. A faulty system can send your stress level through the roof and make you lose crucial data and capabilities.

Use staff time more effectively. How many hours of staff time have you lost to those niggling technical problems? A technology plan will help you streamline staff use of technology, and put systems in place that will make technology a useful tool for staff, not a stumbling block.

Protect yourself from staff turnover. If the person who knows your technology leaves, what will you do? A technology plan can save you by providing documentation of existing systems as well as future plans.

Obtain funding. Management will be much more likely to give money for technology if you can show them a technology plan.