Technology consulting - the 100 day plan

Template for key activities in IT Architecture

Monday, October 21, 2024

This is an extract from a plan outlining key tasks I use as a guide to technology consuting in a new organisation. Depending on the nature of the engagement, there are some elements that are more prominent than others, but it’s a starting point for getting stuff ‘DONE’ in the first 3 or so months of an engagement. It needs to be culled depending on role i.e. General technology consulting of specific enterprise architect.

Key Area Details Specific Deliverables
Understanding Business Objectives Gain a deep understanding of the company’s strategic goals, revenue model, market position, and how IT can support the business in achieving these goals. - Meetings with leadership team, and department heads to understand business challenges. - Deliver a business-aligned IT strategy presentation to ensure you understand the game.
Assess Current IT Landscape Review the organisation’s current IT infrastructure, applications, and service delivery capabilities. Understand existing pain points and operational issues. - Comprehensive IT audit report. - Map of IT assets and applications against fit/capability. - Risk assessment for outdated or vulnerable systems.
Stakeholder Engagement Build relationships with key stakeholders including business unit leaders, vendors, and customers to understand their expectations from IT. - Formalised communication plan with internal stakeholders. - Vendor relationship assessment report. - Customer feedback on IT-related services (if such exists, if not get it happneing).
Team Evaluation Evaluate the current IT team structure, capabilities, and skills. Identify gaps in expertise, leadership, or operational capacity. - Talent assessment report. - Skills gap analysis.
Cybersecurity Review Conduct an in-depth analysis of the current cybersecurity posture, including data protection, disaster recovery, and regulatory compliance. - Security audit findings. - Updated cybersecurity strategy. - Incident response plan. - Regulatory compliance roadmap (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
Cost and Budget Analysis Analyse the IT budget and spend patterns. Identify opportunities for cost optimisation, including cloud adoption, vendor consolidation, or software rationalisation. - IT financial review. - Cost savings and optimisation opportunities. - If project focus, maybe assess against proposed budget.
Digital Transformation Opportunities Explore opportunities for digital transformation, including automation, AI-driven tools (e.g., chatbots, RPA), and cloud migration to modernise operations. - Digital transformation roadmap. - Pilot project proposal (e.g., automation of a key process). - Cloud migration feasibility study.
Governance and Risk Management Implement or review IT governance frameworks to ensure alignment with business priorities, control costs, and mitigate risks. - Updated IT governance policies. - IT risk management framework. - Defined KPIs for monitoring IT performance and alignment with business objectives.
Technology Roadmap Develop a forward-looking technology roadmap that outlines key investments in infrastructure, platforms, security, and innovation for the next 3-5 years. - 3-5 year technology roadmap. - Prioritisation of initiatives based on business impact. - Present to leadership for approval.
Cloud and Infrastructure Strategy Review current infrastructure and explore potential for cloud adoption, hybrid models, or upgrading on-premise infrastructure for greater scalability and flexibility. - Infrastructure modernisation plan. - Cloud adoption strategy (if relevant). - Vendor and platform recommendations.
Data Strategy and Analytics Establish a clear data management strategy that enables better decision-making through analytics, business intelligence, and data governance practices. - Data strategy blueprint. - Business intelligence (BI) tool assessment. - Roadmap for improving data accessibility and insights.
Quick Wins Identification Identify opportunities for immediate improvements in efficiency, customer experience, or cost savings that can be implemented quickly to build credibility. - 60-90 day quick wins plan. - List of short-term initiatives (e.g., software upgrades, process optimisations). - KPIs for tracking early successes.
IT and Business Alignment Ensure IT’s alignment with business processes and that technology investments directly support business outcomes such as operational efficiency or customer service. - IT/business alignment report. - Workshops with business units to identify collaborative opportunities. - Regular feedback loop with business units.
Vendor and Contract Review Assess existing contracts with technology vendors, including terms, SLAs, and alignment with business needs. Renegotiate where necessary. - Vendor contract review. - Recommendations for renegotiations or contract terminations. - New vendor relationship framework.
Change Management Plan Create a change management strategy to address potential resistance to IT changes or new technology implementations, ensuring smooth transitions across teams. - Change management strategy document. - Stakeholder communication plan. - Training and adoption plan for new tools or processes.

This list needs to be modified depending on the nature of the engagement. If it’s a single task outcome, pick and mix to focus on the required deliverables. Each one of the above has drill down lists to provide more focus where needed.