The Motivations for Strategic Planning

Ten questions can be used to test an information systems (IS) strategic plan under consideration or in progress to determine potential payoffs, scope, and priorities and an approximate timing plan. The questions address the following issues to help clarify the key reasons for pursuing strategic planning initiatives: 1. if the nature and needs of the enterprise make information technology (IT) critical to its future, 2. what potential exists in new or improved ITs for the enterprise, 3. what information can be added to products and services and their delivery to increase their value to customers, 4. how well served the enterprise is by current IS and technology assets, 5. how the enterprise's IS should be divided, 6. how to determine that IT and the way it is used will best contribute to the enterprise's mission and objectives, 7. what IS situation balances the ideal and the expedient, 8. what the best blend is in the target IS situation between new, existing, and renovated assets, 9. how to get to the target in the most logical sequence, and 10. how to capitalize on IT for a given time.