Strategies for creating an intelligent IT plan.

• Author: Green, Robert P.
• Position: Information Technology

Many business owners regard information technology as yet another of many demands on their over head budget--a mountain of cost without any tangible return--and in many ways like disposable equipment. In reality, IT is an integral part of business operations that requires planning, intelligent execution and maintenance.

IT plans--similar to a business plan but emphasizing IT initiatives--may differ in their look and structure, but they have four foundational objectives in common that you should keep in mind as you move forward:

* Adopt a planning-oriented perspective to IT as a whole;

* Consider existing (and near-term) business needs and conditions;

* Implement the plan using suitable employees, outside consultants and vendors; and

* Consider financial and operational constraints and parameters.

As a CPA, you are the logical candidate to act as a liaison in an IT planning effort. This doesn't require you to be an IT guru, or even have an IT consulting practice.

Rather, as the point person for this strategic planning process, you will be able to ensure that the business' systems support the business' objectives, and provide security and integrity for the underlying data.

ADOPT A PLANNING-ORIENTED PERSPECTIVE

If you examine the business and its existing needs, you are more likely to value IT as having a far-reaching impact. Sadly, most businesses view IT as not a particularly integral set of fixtures and services.

As a result, business owners deploy a Band-Aid approach to IT activities. They fail to see how IT can dramatically impact their overall business effectiveness, and allow for growth to occur without losing control. Often, IT projects occur because:

* An owner sees something interesting that they "gotta have now", and it ultimately results in nothing positive for the business;

* A particular manager screams loud enough for a project that they need for their area, without regard to how it may impact the priority list of the company as a whole;

* Harm has occurred, such as a major security breach, requiring new devices (firewalls, etc.) and software (intrusion detection, antivirus, etc.) that should have been present anyway; or

* A customer, banker or influential outsider requires specific data, programs or IT procedures to do business with them.

How do you break this norm? Try the three Ps--prudence, planning and professionalism. Recommend that IT projects occur as part of a rational, prioritized plan in concert with business...