| | April 20188CIOReviewNEED FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING/VISIONING BY IT LEADERSHIPBy Brian Benn, Board Of Directors, Technology Association of Georgia/ Southeastern Software Association and Director, IT Business Solutions, Atlanta Housing AuthorityInformation technology (IT) leaders must be thought of as leaders and visionaries who are an integral part of the strategic planning of the organization's use of technology. The high-level engagement of IT leadership can increase profitability for the entire organization rather than the IT practice being relegated to the traditional role as merely a keeper of the organization's information systems. Far too often, IT leaders work in organizations that do not have a clearly articulated strategic plan for the business itself, let alone IT. One main purpose of the IT strategic plan is to improve the relationship between the business and the IT department. IT leadership will use the strategic plan to communicate with the business, ensuring the business that IT understands the company's needs and expectations. If the organization is lacking a strategic business plan, the IT leader must lobby for one. The overarching strategic business plan will anchor the strategic IT plan. Both are integral to the success of the organization.A sound strategic plan is continuous, detailed, defined, and used in organizations of all types to critically and creatively assess where the organization is now, define where the organization wants to be in the future, and Brian BennIN MY OPINION
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