Blog

Developing an IT strategy [Part 2] – getting it started and getting it right

In Part 1 of Developing an IT strategy we talked about the benefits of having a strategy and why aligning it with your business development plan is an important step. Here we’re talking about how.

Getting started

Take some cues from your business and marketing plans and layer an IT blanket over each element, including executive summary, goals of the strategy, budget and financials, personnel, risk management, project outlines, how it will be measured, and resources.

Assemble a small, knowledgeable team to work together on this around the same time the business planning is being conducted. It’s important that those involved in this work have been included in the year’s business planning sessions as well.

To get thinking about what should go in your strategy and how you might approach it, here are some thought starters:

• Is my IT improving or hindering efficient workflow? How can we improve it this year?
• Are we able to scale our IT up or down if the size of the team changes significantly?
• How secure is our cloud infrastructure, and are we maximising the benefits of hybrid working arrangements?
• What devices are our staff using, and do they find these easy to use to perform work tasks across multiple locations?
• What are our minimum requirements for internet speed, cloud storage, and bandwidth? Will these be sufficient for the growth year we have planned?
• Who is responsible for IT? Does this person need more resources and how will we ensure knowledge is transferred to avoid reliance on one person?
• What is the support request process like and what escalation system is in place? Is this ‘resource hungry’ or efficient?
• What systems or processes are in place for cybersecurity and disaster recovery? Are we compliant with current privacy regulations?
• Are staff using only basic features of our software or not using it all? What training can be provided to improve productivity?
• Are our IT use policies up to date with current threats and working practices?
• How are we managing AI tools and automation in our workflows, and what governance is needed?
• What do the IT financials look like? Provide a deeper look into your IT costs than the numbers sitting in your business plan, including subscription services and cloud costs.
• Are our communication and collaboration tools enabling or hampering team productivity?

Remember that an effective IT strategy isn’t just about the technology itself—it’s about how technology enables your people to do their best work while keeping your organisation secure and compliant. For professional services firms particularly, this balance between accessibility, security, and efficiency is crucial for maintaining client trust and operational excellence.

Up next

In the final of this 3 part series, we discuss how to integrate your strategy with your business plan to make it really work.

Need help developing an IT strategy that aligns with your business goals? Our team specialises in creating practical, tailored IT strategies for professional services firms. Get in touch to discuss how we can support your planning process.

Jessica Falconer
Director, Resolve Technology
When she’s not wrangling IT strategies, Jessica can be found wrangling labradoodles, teenagers, and parishioners — not necessarily in that order.