Author

Vikas Burman is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Nagarro and leads the technology consulting activities in the US. He has more than two decades of extensive IT experience.

Sitting at the nexus of technology and business, we are all aware of the roiling currents that followed one another: from uncertainty to resource crises to economic downturns. Today’s digital whirlwind requires a strategic IT roadmap built on technology that empowers, not burdens. In this article, we advise CIOs and IT leaders on how to build digital dominance with a robust Enterprise IT strategy. 

Highlights:

1. CIO’s imperatives for 2024
2. Four pillars of IT strategy

• Pillar I: The foundational landscape
• Pillar II: Six key dimensions of IT strategy
• Pillar III: Enterprise IT strategy maturity model
• Pillar IV: Roadmap for your current IT landscape to chart your ascent 

CIO’s imperatives 2024

It is Agility over bureaucracy, gaining the upper hand in 2024. Leading businesses are ditching slow-moving strategies and using digital transformation as an engine for explosive growth. They aren’t just adapting to change – they’re reshaping markets. While a staggering 62% of businesses struggle to react quickly, those who master digital fluency are 198% more likely to seize every opportunity. The secret weapon to mastering digital fluency is – Clear Accountability. 59% of high-performing organizations know who drives the innovation train, leaving the rest scrambling in the wind. In the digital jungle, the agile survive and the adaptable thrive.

Pillar I: The foundational landscape

Co-existing strategies: the mutual influencers 

In the complex landscape of Enterprise IT Strategy, the interplay with other organizational strategies forms the bedrock of a coherent approach. IT is the linchpin that harmonizes technology with business objectives, from operations and finance to human resources, sales, marketing, and beyond. This synergy extends to corporate and business unit strategies where IT supports and influences decision-making and efficiency improvement. 

The operational strategy provides for a two-way relationship where IT’s contributions to agility and productivity are guided by and drive operational priorities. This dynamic ensures pragmatic alignment with goals and promotes the seamless integration of technology. IT’s influence is pivotal in market expansion and product development strategies to align innovation with market needs for strategic business growth. 

Innovation and R&D strategies benefit from the role of IT in collaborative innovation, fostering technological progress. Sustainability, CSR, and digital strategies emphasize the important role of IT in supporting broader business initiatives. Integration with Customer Service, human resources, and Cybersecurity Strategies underscores IT’s contribution to customer engagement, workforce management, and robust cybersecurity.

IT drivers: the direct impactors 

Crafting a resilient IT strategy demands focusing on three key drivers: Foundational elements such as cloud computing and cybersecurity, Enablers such as RPA (Robotic Process Automation) and advanced analytics, and Force Multipliers like AI (Artificial Intelligence) and quantum computing. These categories, each of which plays a specific role, shape everything from foundational capabilities to unlocking new efficiencies. 

To harness their full potential, leaders need to understand the capabilities and practical applications of these drivers. The framework provides a concise guide for selecting key topics and use cases in the business context. It also serves as a tool for initiating and refining thematic approaches for a future-proof IT strategy. Understanding and strategically leveraging these IT drivers is critical to moving the business forward in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

External forces: the influencers 

IT strategy isn’t solo. It’s influenced by — Trends, Disruptions, and Forecasts that serve as signposts. We must respond to change with adaptability and foresight while approaching it proactively. Flexible IT frameworks enable us to seize opportunities, mitigate risks, and ultimately take a sustainable and innovative path. 

It’s not about chasing fads. It’s about understanding the currents, navigating the whirlpools, and charting a course that ensures our organization not only floats but thrives in the ever-changing sea of progress. The IT strategy isn’t a static map but a living compass that propels a business toward a sustainable and innovative future.

Business drivers: the strategic bedrock 

Effective IT hinges on consistent alignment with key business drivers — Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives. These dynamic compasses map the IT initiative to evolving business goals. Working on these key drivers includes conducting critical research that goes beyond routine alignment and looks for deep integration of IT into the strategic fabric of a business. Second, a careful analysis of comprehensive scenarios that transform into tangible roadmaps and turn IT into a powerful engine for excellence. This ensures a unified, future-oriented IT landscape that actively drives the company toward its vision of success.

It’s imperative for CIOs and IT leaders to recognize this mutual influence. It's not just about technological prowess; it's about developing a strategy that seamlessly integrates with all areas of the business and leads to a future that is both technologically advanced and strategically sound.

Pillar II: Six dimensions of enterprise IT strategy

The six dimensions of enterprise IT strategy listed below represent a comprehensive 360-degree view of how IT can and should be intertwined with every facet of the business. This framework addresses the foundational, enabling and power-multiplying aspects of IT and creates a matrix in which various themes and their relevant topics within these dimensions are harmoniously aligned. 

Strategic alignment

Operational excellence

Technology & infrastructure

It is about ensuring that IT practices meet current requirements and are environmentally sound, legally compliant, and equipped for future challenges and opportunities. 

Pillar III: The enterprise IT strategy maturity model 

These dimensions form the basis on which we examine and improve the maturity of your organization’s IT strategy to ensure it is comprehensive, dynamic and aligned with your organization’s goals. 

A structured approach to IT evolution 

The Enterprise IT Strategy Maturity Model is an essential framework to systematically develop your IT strategy. It also fosters a culture of continuous improvement for business growth.  This model comprises five maturity levels – Initial, Coordinated, Integrated, Optimized and Innovative – and serves as a roadmap that guides companies through the progressive stages of IT strategy development. 

When mapping the various dimensions from the previous section into this model, it is advisable to group them into coherent themes that serve as specific IT initiatives. This approach ensures logical consistency and manageability. For example, the template below serves as a guide for defining themes and grouping different dimensions appropriately to provide a customized definition of all five maturity levels. 

Pillar IV: Enterprise IT strategy: roadmap to the future

Discover the complete strategy<

Envisioning the future of your IT strategy is an ongoing journey that requires a constant focus on adaptation and strategic foresight. It involves a careful blend of inventory, strategic vision and roadmap development, all aimed at taking your IT capabilities to the next level. By regularly reviewing and revising your IT strategy to adapt to new technologies and changing business landscapes, you can ensure that it remains relevant, effective and aligned with your organization's evolving goals to drive sustainable growth and technological advancement in an ever-changing digital world. 

 

 Vikas Burman, CTO, Nagarro