We mention IT assessments as part of the work we do at RB Consulting.  Unfortunately, this is a new concept to some people.  Thus, it may help to look at what one is, and why anyone would want one performed.  A good start is to think about an accounting

A good start is to think about an accounting audit or similar assessment process.  A financial audit is done to help you get a picture of your financial state on paper and in reality.  An IT assessment is similar; it helps you get a view of the state of your IT situation on paper and in reality.

The evaluation of IT strategy and implementation is becoming more common as IT has grown to be more critical to the success of companies in any industry.  We now have the quick answer to the question of why one would want to do an IT assessment.  IT is a critical factor in the success of a company so knowing whether IT is a strength or weakness is an essential piece of proper management and decision making.

What should IT Assessments include?

A good IT assessment will provide you a view into several factors of your IT group and how they match up with the industry. This includes answers to the following questions:

• How do you compare with others in the industry?
• How does your IT strategy align with the corporate goals and vision?
• What is the IT team doing right?
• What are the IT team needs?
• How do contracts/license agreements impact plans?
• What is our Roadmap/Plan for addressing issues?
• How does our Roadmap/Plan align with business goals?

This assessment should include a review of vendors and how they play a role in your strategy both today and the future.  For example, you may have a well-run outsourced IT operation, or you might have to make some changes to make that vendor work for you.

Assessing the Assessor

There are some indicators to look for in an assessment to help you assess the assessor.  These indicators are essential in any good IT assessment.  First, the reviewer needs to understand your business, environment, and culture.  These non-IT facets are crucial to a good IT strategy.  Lack of consideration of these business factors is often a reason why IT fails or struggles.

Second, the assessor needs to look at your infrastructure, staff, budget targets and goals.  Each of these items is necessary for assessing an IT department.  These are also necessary steps in plotting a course for the future.  A great plan can be rendered useless if you lack the budget, the staff, or the infrastructure to support that program.

Preferred technology is a common flaw in assessments.  This is when the assessor has a bias towards a particular solution, technology, or vendor.  They try to steer you towards a solution that is perfect for them (financially or in comfort/experience), but it is not a good fit for you.  An excellent way to avoid this is to make sure the assessor has no vested interests in a given outcome.  It is the same sort of independence you look for in a financial auditor and for similar reasons.

Can We Assess Ourselves?

What if I have my current staff perform the assessment?  This is an excellent question, and a great approach, if you are confident in the abilities of your team to plan and implement your vision.  We do recommend, however, that you do go to an outside firm/group/consultant periodically as a way to bring in fresh ideas.  An external assessment also can help protect you and your team from any group think as outside assessors will likely bring in new ideas.

I have seen a lot of IT teams become myopic over a period as short as a few years.  They can become highly focused on a few key issues or struggles, and they do not have the bandwidth to pick their heads up from their daily work.  This “fire fighting” mode limits their ability to look at other options in the industry.

How do I learn more?

We are happy to help you determine how complex your IT assessment should be and whether one makes sense for your company at this time. Sometimes you are better off spending some time organizing your corporate IT thoughts before bringing in an assessor. If you would like to schedule some time to talk it over with us, please contact us on this site.  You can also send an email to info@54.197.223.3 or give us a call at 1-866-726-9507.