As your business grows, so does your need for technology and the resources to support it. Do you have the right IT resource plan in place to support your current and future business needs?
What is an IT Resource Plan?
IT Resource Planning is the process of identifying, acquiring, and managing the hardware, software, and other resources needed to support an organization’s information technology infrastructure.
The plan outlines the IT resources that an organization needs to support its business objectives, including a list of the hardware, software, and other resources that are required, as well as information on how those resources will be used.The plan should also include a timeline for implementing the resources and a budget for the costs associated with them.
A strong IT resource plan will also include both short-term and long-term planning to ensure that resources are available when needed and to avoid over- or under-utilization of resources. Proper IT resource planning can help an organization save money, improve efficiency, and reduce risk.
What Should Be Included in an IT Resource Plan?
Creating an IT resource plan can be a daunting task, but there are a few key things to keep in mind that will make the process easier. For example, be sure to involve all of the stakeholders in the planning process so that everyone is on the same page about what resources are available and where they should be allocated.
Whoever is in charge of the IT resource plan has to be at the table with executive leaders and in sync with them. The plan needs to have C-suite backing, sufficient funding, and suitable leadership assigned, even if that means outsourcing some or all of the IT team if the current employees either don’t know how to implement some or all parts of the plan, and/or doesn’t have the necessary bandwidth to concentrate on it while also continuing day-to-day activities.
Another important factor is to ensure that the plan is aligned with the organization’s business objectives. The right resources for managing a resource plan are planning for not only the implementation of the IT plan, but considering the direction of the overall business, how the IT department supports this direction, and, conversely, how the business supports the IT department.
The two objectives must be in sync, as the IT department’s goals can’t be running independently or contrary to the goals of the business. For example, if the business is planning to transition to a workforce that largely telecommutes, the IT plan can’t be to bring all technology in-house and lock it down. If the workforce is going to be mobile, priority should be given to network security, identity and access management, etc. above all other tasks.
Who Can Help with an IT Resource Plan?
Having an insufficient or nonexistent IT resource plan is problematic for a number of reasons. If you have the wrong resources, coupled with a lack of internal expertise, how do you know when “done” is truly done, and if it’s been done well? How do you know that when you shut the door at night (whether literally or figuratively), your network is safe?
No one IT person is going to excel in every aspect of information technology, so having access to a strategic team with capabilities that line up with what the resource plan is and what it’s delivering is going to be important.
They can also be a resource for the IT leader regarding both expertise and products. Another function of a strategic firm is to assist in training the team and in supplementing the team to alleviate a heavy workflow.
Even if you have several subject matter experts on your team, there’s a limitation of hours in the day. A heavy workload can lead to fatigue and burnout issues, and finding a strategic firm to assist your current team can help to ensure there is balance for employees.
Socium Solutions can help put in the right resources and/or provide the right oversight for your IT department. If you need guidance regarding the alignment of business goals and IT goals, we can assist you in making sure that the alignment is consistent, and help both the IT department and the executive department communicate more effectively.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you with your IT resource plan!