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How To Align Technology With Your Business Objectives In 3 Steps

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The role of an IT Leader has drastically changed in recent years. Technology is now a critical part of business strategy and IT Leaders are not only required to influence and implement but also inspire and transform their organizations. In the past, the capabilities of people outweighed the capabilities of technology, but as technology continues to evolve, so does the role of an IT Leader. Instead of supporting, CIOs and IT leaders are now tasked with delivering [systems that are aligned with business objectives.] This position is so influential that Gartner predicts that by 2021 CIOs will be as responsible for culture change as Chief HR Officers.

“Business Objective” means something different to everyone. According to SproutSocial, a business objective is “ a specific and measurable result companies hope to maintain as their organization grows.”

Their examples of popular business objectives topics are as follows:

  • Revenue
  • Growth
  • Productivity and Performance
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Operational

So how do you ensure that your technology is aligned with your business objectives?

1) PERFORM A TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT TO ENSURE YOUR TECH STACK ALIGNS WITH YOUR BUSINESS OBJECTIVES.

Technology assessments help you be proactive instead of reactive. Even companies and organizations that use the most cutting-edge technology should frequently perform assessments to track the success and efficiency of their current technology.

Your technology should check 3 boxes:

  • Improves internal processes
  • Aligns with business objectives
  • Improves customer experience

If your business technology isn’t aiding in any of these efforts, it’s time to rethink your purchase. A technology assessment will help you see what’s working effectively and what you need to reevaluate, or how your technology can be used in a way that does align with your business objectives.

2) RESEARCH OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS THAT CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR BUSINESS OBJECTIVES.

Chances are if you’ve found one technology solution to solve your problem, there are five other solutions you haven’t even considered. These other solutions might be more cost-effective, more user-friendly, or they may simply better align with your business operations.

Conducting in-depth research will help you see all of your options clearly. From COTS products to SaaS solutions to hiring an external consulting team… the possibilities are endless to help you effectively use technology for your business.

3) ENSURE THAT THE TECHNOLOGY SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATES WITH YOUR ENTIRE TECHNOLOGY STACK AND IS WITHIN BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.

Be sure to answer these questions before purchasing a new solution:

  • Who will be using and/or managing this new solution?
  • [Product] How long and complex is the implementation process?
  • [Product] Does the product have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan?
  • [Product] Does it meet security and compliance requirements?
  • [Product] Is there a product roadmap that includes future improvements and developments?
  • How do you provide ongoing support?
  • What are the stipulations of the contract?
  • Is it within budget?

Remember that more technology doesn’t necessarily mean more productivity. Do your research before you purchase new technology. When looking at cost, make sure you factor in workplace productivity gains after implementation.

These are the 3 steps to aligning technology with your business objectives. Once a solution is chosen, you must always manage and measure to ensure success and ROI.

CSpring’s consultants partner with IT leaders and organizations to implement or perform business analysis, UI/UX services, data architecture, software architecture, software testing, managed services, impact assessments, automated testing, data strategy, IT strategy, IT leadership and more. Looking for help aligning technology with your business objectives? Request a free consultation today.