ISM 645 UArizona Global Aligning IT Strategies With Business Initiatives Worksheet

In previous weeks you have constructed a mission statement, a vision statement, and a time-line horizon. Additionally, you identified the strategic initiatives of the business and built an IT Major Projects Plan. This week you will put these all together in an aligned and coordinated IT Strategic Matrix in which you will match the major projects that you want to accomplish over the next one to three years with the company’s strategic business initiatives. Within this hierarchy, the business develops its strategy and specific initiatives, and as the IT Leader you will build your strategy from those initiatives. In some cases this presents some duplication of effort, but at some point, a consolidation of direction and efforts must take place in order to move the business forward. In order for IT to be successful (meaning, it drives the business forward and supports its mission and vision productively), it must sync up its activities to those needed by the business.

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In this assignment, you will write a 4-page paper that describes the alignment of IT Strategic Plans with the Strategic Business Initiatives. Using the

ISM645 Acme Full Strategic Plan

determine the elements of the business initiatives and match them to the major IT strategic projects necessary. Discuss the strategic relationship between the elements within your narrative and why you aligned the specific IT initiatives to the Business initiatives.

Include the following elements in your paper.

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  • Align the IT strategies with the corporate strategies and business initiatives.
  • Identify the potential future IT needs for each business initiative utilizing research and innovative practices.
  • Align IT strategic elements against a one, two, and three year time frame.
  • Create a cost estimate for each IT strategic element
  • Include a matrix that shows the alignment of the IT Strategic Plan and the Strategic Business Initiative
  • Refer to the ISM645 Business Initiative IT Planning Matrix Worksheet to for a guide to creating the table.
  • The Alignment of IT Strategies with Business Initiatives paperMust be completed in the provided ISM645 Business Initiative IT Plan Matrix template. ISM645 IT Strategic Planning — Acme Full Strategic Plan
    Acme Corporation
    Strategic Plan 2014-2016 As of June 5, 2015
    Full Strategic Plan
    MISSION STATEMENT
    The mission of Acme Corporation Technology is to create technology solutions for forward-thinking organizations
    VISION STATEMENT
    To be known as the technology experts and resource center for small to medium-sized organizations.
    This is where you type your description.
    CORE VALUES
    1.
    2.
    3.
    4.
    5.
    6.
    7.
    8.
    Purpose & Growth – our foundation is built on our purpose and provides a place for our team’s passion
    Client Focus – a razor-sharp focus on our customer’s growth is essential and the only way to succeed.
    Integrity – to have honesty and respect for all individuals.
    Leadership – to empower and inspire entrepreneurial leaders.
    Professionalism – to be professional in our actions to our clients, partners and each other.
    Excellence – to continually pursue knowledge and learn.
    Community Service – to effectively help organizations to make an impact.
    Fun – to have enjoyment and fulfillment in our work
    COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
    1.
    2.
    3.
    4.
    5.
    Reoccurring revenue that is scalable
    Assets and software products in place outside our services
    Innovative in marrying business process with technology
    Business Network – domestic and international
    Patented Intellectual Property – interactive, integrated web-based
    STRATEGIC ISSUES
    What is the best method to meld the different cultures and build a strong team to most effectively deliver on mission?
    How do we build and incorporate consistency in our growth strategies, standardized operating procedures and communications in
    light of frequent changes in leadership?
    How do we best meet the growth operations and service demands in light of consistent budget cuts?
    ORGANIZATION-WIDE STRATEGIES
    Organization-Wide Focus:
    2013 – Lay the foundation for the organization.
    2014 – Execute a market penetration strategy to increase top line.
    2015 – Standardization of all processes.
    2016 – Develop the infrastructure to prepare for high growth.
    CUSTOMER SEGMENTS
    Current Customers
    Program or Product
    New Customers
    Has an existing system in place. Needs minimal to maximum coaching
    through the package selection process and installation. Willing to hire
    someone. Willing to commit time, money and staff. Willing to be facilitated
    throughout the process.
    Describe how program or product are service people.
    Needs a quick solution to focus and guide their business. Needs a tool to get
    started. Want a self-support product. Desire to move their business to the
    next level. Ready to commit time and money to their information systems. Do
    it-yourselves. Not necessarily sole-proprietors. Needs to be easy, practical
    and simple. Linear use. Do it and it is done. More than 5 employees.
    Established business. Size of market: of Small Businesses: 5.5 million
    STRATEGIC PLAN 2014-2016 – AT-A-GLANCE
    FINANCIAL STRATEGICOBJECTIVES&ORGANIZATION GOALS
    1 Revenue Growth: Grow our revenue by 30% each year
    1.1 KPI – Generate sales of $1.5 m illion by the end of the year.
    2 Productivity Improvement: Maintain a 20% Net Profit Margin each year
    2.1 Maintain profitability with a budget allocation of 50% for business re- investm ent for product developm ent.
    2.2 Increase average billable hour factor. (Source: Tim e- tracking Program )
    CUSTOMER STRATEGICOBJECTIVES&ORGANIZATION GOALS
    3 Professional Services: To be the professional partner of choice.
    3.1 Professional Service: Acquire 2 new consulting clients $10,000+ per m onth.
    4 Maintenance Contracts: To be viewed as the top technology resource in the western region.
    4.1 Maintenance Contracts: Acquire an average of 5 new m aintenance contracts per m onth
    4.2 Licensing: Acquire 1,500 total licenses by the end of the year.
    4.3 Maintain 85% of our current custom ers.
    INTERNAL/OPERATIONAL STRATEGICOBJECTIVES&ORGANIZATION GOALS
    5 Innovation/Product Development: Continue to develop technology innovation.
    5.1 Launch integration with 2 other applications.
    6 Overall Operations: Develop and maintain an infrastructure that allows for a virtual office and efficient
    overhead.
    6.1 Set up com puters to be accessed from any destination.
    6.2 Define all procedures and process in writing in order to support projected growth.
    6.3 Blogs & Newsletters: Consistently tim ely relevant thought leadership that is developed, published and preserved.
    PEOPLE
    ANDLEARNINGSTRATEGICOBJECTIVES&ORGANIZATION
    GOALS
    7 Training: Actively help our team to develop and grow professional and personally by supporting a flexible work
    life, providing intellectually engaging work, and fair compensation.
    7.1 Train sales people in best practices
    7.2 Develop better com m unication and presentation skills to increase ability to work with and assist clients.
    8 Community Involvement: Develop and implement a corporate giving strategy that is in line with our competitive
    advantages.
    8.1 Manage the selection, contribution and custom er com m unication of nonprofit donations. Target is 15% of revenue.
    9 Long Term Strategic Objective (No assignment, far reaching and broad based, 3-5 years out) [**Sample Goal
    Cascading**]
    9.1 Organizational Goal (Corporate- wide, generally not assigned, 18- 24 m onths) [**Sam ple Goal Cascading**]
    STRATEGIC PLAN 2014-2016 – DETAIL
    FINANCIAL STRATEGICOBJECTIVES&ORGANIZATION GOALS
    1 Revenue Growth: Grow our revenue by 30% each year
    1.1 KPI – Generate sales of $1.5 million by the end of the year. ( Administration)
    (12/31/17)
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    1.1.1 Maintenance Contracts: Generate $500,000 in m aintenance contracts. (Marketing)
    1.1.2 Software Licenses: Generate $300,000 in added software features by the end of each FY.
    (Adm inistration)
    1.1.2.1 Secure 25 new license contracts weekl y (Music, Children. (Top#5) (Nate Platt)
    1.1.2.1.1 Create new contract for weekl y licenses. (Crystal O’ Langdon)
    1.1.2.2 Develop 20 software programs to monitor licenses. (Grant H owell)
    1.1.3 Professional Consulting: Generate $200,000 in web design consulting. #sam ple (Custom er
    Service)
    1.1.4 Increase sales conversion by 5% (Adm inistration)
    Measure:
    $ in sales
    EOY Target:
    $1,500,000
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    $
    $500,000
    01/01/13
    12/31/15
    $ generated
    $300,000
    01/01/14
    12/31/16
    # of new license
    contracts
    25
    01/01/14
    12/31/15
    % compl ete
    100%
    01/01/15
    06/30/15
    # of software programs
    20
    01/01/14
    12/31/15
    $ – net incom e
    $200,000
    01/01/13
    12/31/14
    Percent
    25%
    01/01/14
    12/31/15
    2 Productivity Improvement: Maintain a 20% Net Profit Margin each year
    2.1 Maintain profitability with a budget allocation of 50% for business re-investment for
    product development. ( Administration) ( 12/31/15)
    Measure:
    % for product developm ent
    EOY Target:
    50%
    2.2 Increase average billable hour factor. ( Source: Time-tracking Program)
    ( Administration) ( 12/31/15)
    Measure:
    $ per billable hour.
    EOY Target:
    $220
    CUSTOMER STRATEGICOBJECTIVES&ORGANIZATION GOALS
    3 Professional Services: To be the professional partner of choice.
    3.1 Professional Service: Acquire 2 new consulting clients $10,000+ per month.
    ( Administration) ( 12/31/15)
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    3.1.1 Develop 2 new webinars a quarter to assist Sales Team . (Marketing)
    Measure:
    # of new consulting clients
    EOY Target:
    24
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    # of new webinars
    4
    07/01/15
    12/31/15
    01/12/14
    11/01/15
    3.1.1.1 Develop 15 minute “Basic Package” presentation. (Crystal O’ Langdon)
    % Complete
    3.1.1.2 R eview existing presentations format for consistency. (Crystal O’ Langdon)
    % Complete
    100%
    01/12/13
    03/22/14
    3.1.1.3 Create a consistent slide templ ate for Webinars. (Thomas Wright)
    % Compl ete of
    standard templates
    100%
    07/13/15
    12/31/15
    3.1.2 Develop a new software program to track clients (IT Group)
    % of program
    com pleted
    100%
    06/19/15
    12/31/15
    4 Maintenance Contracts: To be viewed as the top technology resource in the western region.
    4.1 Maintenance Contracts: Acquire an average of 5 new maintenance contracts per
    month ( Marketing) ( 12/31/15)
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    4.1.1 Identify and m aintain list of 50 target custom ers that could benefit from a m aintenance
    contract. (Marketing)
    4.2 Licensing: Acquire 1,500 total licenses by the end of the year. ( Operations)
    ( 12/31/14)
    Measure:
    avg m onthly # of new m aintenance
    contracts
    EOY Target:
    0
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    # of target
    custom ers
    50
    01/01/13
    12/31/14
    Measure:
    # of new licenses
    EOY Target:
    1,500
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    # Licenses
    560
    01/01/13
    12/31/14
    4.2.2 Grow new custom er conversions by 100% to an average of 75/m onth. (IT Group)
    # of new licenses
    75
    01/01/13
    12/31/14
    4.2.3 Grow new custom er trials by 25% to m ark of 85 New Trials per m onth. (IT Group)
    # of New Trials
    85
    01/01/13
    12/31/14
    % Churn
    8.01%
    01/01/13
    12/31/14
    % Complete
    100%
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    4.2.1 Grow average m onthly licenses by 40% to 560 (IT Group)
    4.2.4 Maintain or decrease the Churn Rate of Licenses which is currently at 8.01%. (Custom er
    Service)
    4.2.4.1 Secure coaching on Customer Success Manager for team. (Crystal O’ Langdon)
    4.3 Maintain 85% of our current customers. ( Administration) ( 12/31/15)
    Measure:
    % increase in custom er base
    annually
    12/09/13
    EOY Target:
    85%
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    % com pleted
    100%
    01/01/13
    12/31/13
    % compl ete
    100%
    01/20/13
    06/30/15
    % compl ete
    100%
    01/01/11
    04/30/12
    4.3.1.2 Develop campai gn material for new markets. (Sales Director)
    % compl ete
    100%
    03/01/12
    12/31/13
    4.3.1.3 Create new web pages (rough draft) for the campai gn promotion. (R andall Scion)
    % Complete
    100%
    06/01/12
    05/31/13
    % Com plete
    100%
    06/01/13
    12/31/15
    % increase in close
    rate
    70%
    01/01/13
    12/31/15
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    4.3.1 Im plem ent m arketing cam paign to draw in new m arkets. (Marketing)
    4.3.1.1 Research and identify 6 opportunities in new markets that company could expand into. (Joanne & Tracy)
    (JoAnne Rogers)
    4.3.1.1.1 Compl ete a competitive anal ysi s study of our current and prospective markets. (Tom Jones)
    4.3.2 Develop a com petitive analysis survey for our m arket. (Adm inistration)
    4.3.3 Increase sales close rate by 25% (Marketing)
    INTERNAL/OPERATIONAL STRATEGICOBJECTIVES&ORGANIZATION GOALS
    5 Innovation/Product Development: Continue to develop technology innovation.
    5.1 Launch integration with 2 other applications. ( IT Group) ( 12/31/15)
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    5.1.1 Map out entire integration process (Web Specialists)
    Measure:
    Applications Integrated
    EOY Target:
    100%
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    Map com pleted
    100%
    01/01/14
    06/30/15
    6 Overall Operations: Develop and maintain an infrastructure that allows for a virtual office and efficient overhead.
    6.1 Set up computers to be accessed from any destination. ( Administration) ( 12/31/15)
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    6.1.1 Purchase necessary software/hardware or m ake arrangem ents with an internet service
    provider for virtual access. (IT Group)
    Measure:
    % com plete of com puter accessible
    from any destination
    EOY Target:
    100%
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    % com plete
    100%
    01/01/15
    6.2 Define all procedures and process in writing in order to support projected growth.
    ( Administration) ( 12/31/15)
    Measure:
    % of process in writing.
    EOY Target:
    6.3 Blogs & Newsletters: Consistently timely relevant thought leadership that is
    developed, published and preserved. ( Marketing) ( 12/31/13)
    Measure:
    % com plete
    EOY Target:
    100
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    6.3.1 Write 1 blog post per week (Web Specialists)
    # of blog posts
    52
    01/01/13
    12/31/13
    6.3.2 Write 2 newsletters per m onth. (Adm inistration)
    # of newsletters
    2
    01/01/13
    12/31/13
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    PEOPLE
    ANDLEARNINGSTRATEGICOBJECTIVES&ORGANIZATION
    GOALS
    7 Training: Actively help our team to develop and grow professional and personally by supporting a flexible work
    life, providing intellectually engaging work, and fair compensation.
    7.1 Train sales people in best practices ( Marketing) ( 11/30/15)
    Measure:
    actual attendance per year by all 12
    m anagers
    EOY Target:
    12
    7.2 Develop better communication and presentation skills to increase ability to work
    with and assist clients. ( Customer Service) ( 12/31/13)
    Measure:
    % com plete in
    com m unication/presentation skills
    EOY Target:
    100%
    8 Community Involvement: Develop and implement a corporate giving strategy that is in line with our competitive
    advantages.
    8.1 Manage the selection, contribution and customer communication of nonprofit
    donations. Target is 15% of revenue. ( Administration) ( 12/31/15)
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    8.1.1 Determ ine budget for Com m unity Involvem ent party. (Custom er Service)
    8.1.1.1 Solicit ideas for theme, entertainment, catering for Community Involvement party. (Thomas Wright)
    Measure:
    % of license revenue
    EOY Target:
    15%
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    % Com plete
    100%
    01/01/13
    05/31/15
    % Complete
    100%
    01/01/15
    07/31/15
    9 Long Term Strategic Objective (No assignment, far reaching and broad based, 3-5 years out) [**Sample Goal
    Cascading**]
    9.1 Organizational Goal ( Corporate-wide, generally not assigned, 18-24 months)
    [ **Sample Goal Cascading**] ( Operations) ( 12/31/14)
    Measure:
    % com plete
    EOY Target:
    100%
    Measure
    EOY Target
    Start Date,
    End Date
    9.1.1 Departm ent Goal [Corporate Action Item ] (Assigned to the Departm ent responsible for
    seeing that the goal and its actions are com pleted, 12- 18 m onths)
    $
    $5,000
    01/01/13
    09/01/14
    9.1.1.1 Team Member Goal (or Dept Actions) (Assigned to Team Member responsible for seeing this goal
    compl eted, 6-12 months)
    % Complete
    100%
    01/01/13
    06/30/14
    % Complete
    100%
    03/01/13
    05/31/13
    Department Goals and Team Member Goals
    9.1.1.1.1 Team Member Acti on (Assigned to the Team Member responsible for seeing this action completed,
    short term items onl y (30, 60, 90 days))
    PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

    Appoint a strategic plan manager

    Hold people accountable (now that they are
    able) Put in place an incentive
    compensation plan Coach for achievement

    Empower managers

    Hold effective strategy meetings – first
    Mondays Hold annual retreat – second
    week in December
    APPENDIX A: STRATEGIC PLANNING TERMS
    Strategic Planning Term
    Definition
    Core Values/Guiding Principles
    How people want to behave with each other in the organization. Value statem ents describe actions that are the
    living enactm ent of the fundam ental values held by m ost individuals within the organization. What are our guiding
    principles, as a group, to adhere to no m atter what?
    Core Purpose/Mission Statement
    The organization’s core purpose. Why do we exist?
    Vision Statement ( 5+ years)
    Where you are headed — your future state — your Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal. Where are we going?
    Competitive Advantages
    A characteristic(s) of an organization that allows it to m eet their custom er’s need(s) better than their com petition
    can. What are we best at in our m arket?
    Organization-Wide Strategies
    Your strategies are the general m ethods you intend to use to reach your vision. A strategy is like an um brella. It is a
    general statem ent(s) that guides and covers a set of activities. You can develop strategies for your whole
    organization, a departm ent, a specific set of activities, or a guiding statem ent for a year. No m atter what the level, a
    strategy answers the question “how.”
    Long- term , broad, continuous statem ents that address all areas of your organization. If you have a five- year vision,
    Long-Term Strategic Objectives ( 3+
    these would be three- to four- year interm ediate guideposts on the way there. What m ust we focus on to achieve
    years)
    our vision?
    Short-Term Items ( 1 year)
    Short- term item s that convert the Strategic Objectives into specific perform ance targets. Effective goals clearly state
    what, when, who and are specifically m easurable — they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Responsible
    person, tim e bound (SMART). What m ust we do to achieve our long- term Strategic Objectives?
    Key Performance Indicators ( KPIs)
    Metric and non- m etric m easurem ents essential to the com pletion of an organization’s goals. Each organization
    narrows the possible list down to a m anageable group of KPIs that m ake the m ost difference to perform ance. KPIs
    are linked to goals. How will we know we have achieved our goals?
    ISM645 Business Initiative IT Planning Matrix Worksheet
    v 1.2
    The following worksheet will help you develop a matrix of IT Systems or Initiatives required driven by the
    Business Initiatives as communicated in the Corporate Strategy.
    IT Strategic Plan to Support Business Initiatives
    Use the following matrix to list the IT systems that are required to support the planned business initiatives.
    Ensure to include any necessary notes.
    Business
    Initiative
    IT System
    or
    Initiative
    Required
    Year(s) this
    project will
    take place
    Ball Park Estimates
    Time
    (# Days)
    Resources
    (# FTE)
    Cost
    ($)
    Approved
    (Y/N)
    Related Notes:
    Here is an Example of an IT Initiative to Business Initiative Matrix:
    Business
    Initiative
    IT System
    or Initiative
    Required
    Year(s) this
    project will
    take place
    Ball Park Estimates
    Time
    Resources
    Cost
    Approved
    Loyalty
    Campaign
    E-mail
    Distribution
    System
    2014
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    Yes
    Mail Out
    Satisfaction
    Survey
    10% Off
    “New
    Purchase”
    Campaign
    All
    Campaigns
    E-mail
    Distribution
    System
    E-mail
    Distribution
    System
    2014
    (See note 1)
    40
    days
    2 FTE
    $10,000
    No
    2015
    (See note 2)
    20
    days
    1 FTE
    $5,000
    Yes
    Campaign
    Reporting
    System
    Servers,
    Workstations
    2014-2016
    (See note 3)
    200
    days
    2 FTE
    $10,000
    Yes
    2016
    40
    days
    3 FTE
    $50,000
    Yes
    Product X
    2016
    200
    days
    10 FTE
    $100,000
    Yes
    Expand into
    Asia
    Develop
    Related
    Product X
    Related Notes:
    1. Survey Capable. Our current e-mail distribution system is not capable of handling in-line survey
    questions. We will need to add support for this capability. We are assuming we will go with the
    simplest solution (link to a survey Web page) and will create our own survey instead of
    purchasing a survey package.
    2. Coupon Capable. Our current e-mail distribution system is not capable of handling attachments or
    coupons. We will need to add support for this capability. We are assuming we will go with the
    simplest solution (embedding the coupon in the e-mail).
    3. The new Campaign Reporting system will consist of the following project components:
    a. Define brand/product performance metrics
    b. Develop data warehouse architecture
    c. Design/build data warehouse/data marts
    d. Design/build ETL mechanisms
    e. Design/build dashboards, queries, and reports

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