Let’s face it – IT (Information Technology) is a massive part of every business. Today’s smart industries demand flexibility, speed, analysis, and data from a multitude of sources and systems. IT provides those key components (hardware, software, consultation, app reviews, and everything in between) and without them, you might as well not even turn on a light switch to further business objectives and goals.
But many IT teams are overwhelmed and understaffed leading to inefficient project development and work management issues. Project delays, or starts and stops, are becoming increasingly frequent thanks to a lack of personnel and time. It is a costly scenario and not one with a clear-cut solution as to how to manage talent and keep engineers engaged, while not allowing a dip in customer satisfaction or a loss of a company’s opportunity to improve operations.
However, there are ways to strengthen and build a better IT Decision Making wheel that is in line with an organization’s business strategy.
1. Build a Charter of Operations
A Charter of Operations made of IT and business leaders can first assess the scope and needs of a project. Typically submitted with a technology request from business operations, the Charter reviews things like budget, time commitments, employee skills needed, and business goals and starts the wheel turning. From running new cable to reviewing software or APIs, they are the hub of decision-making efficiency. They approve and define a project’s processes and put them in motion, tapping the leads necessary to keep things moving in a positive direction.
2. Building the Team with Leads
Leads take the project after assessment and add the spokes – the crews and team members – to compliment what the hub has established. They are careful not to remove team members from one project for the sake of another. “Spin Up” is a major consideration at this stage. You don’t want to pull someone who has been working on a lengthy project onto one that appears to need more attention. If the removed crew must start from scratch and learn everything anew while another team is being brought up to speed on the previous project, that has just put two projects in jeopardy. Leads also match skills with the jobs defined and lock a timeframe for completion. They also may hire outside to complete a technology work order if a project calls for it. Solutions like ARCOS Crew Manager and Mobile Workbench can help organize and speed up this process.
3. Review and Reassess
The outside rim of the IT Decision Making process holds everything together. It is a final look at how the integrity of the planning, work management, and the team’s efforts paid off. Did that app review come in on time? Are the legacy systems talking with the new program installations? Did the control center’s equipment investment come in under budget and on time? Did crew members stay on project? Did the technology advance business goals and strategy? All of these are review factors to consider. If one is out place, the wheel will be bent and not rolling correctly. Fix the issue so the next time the rim maintains its correct shape for a smooth, supervised, controlled jaunt over the cobblestones of mismanaged jobs and goals.
Without a well-formed IT Decision Making plan matched to business strategy, organizations may find that they really do have a very bumpy journey ahead. Based on the right criteria, these three suggestions can build on success and help make decisions that benefit all departments while moving an organization’s business model down the road to a beautiful, sparkly gold sunset filled with achievement and a measurable ROI.
To find out more about how ARCOS solutions can complement the trek, contact us today, or check out our Managed Services offerings.
