Plan the Course of Action
Align the IT plans with the HS Agency's goals, determining what technologies are needed most to be put in place first.
| Overview |
| Activities |
Overview
Planning serves as a catalyst to initiate organizational as well as technological change. Following the key steps will produce an HS IT Division Strategic Plan, aligned with the overall HS Agency plans and goals based on a thorough understanding of the HS Agency's external and internal environment. Strategy Team has responsibility for conducting these activities, with the HS Agency Decision Makers and IT Decision Makers having oversight and ultimate ownership of the plan. The makeup of the Strategy Team is critical to the success of this process.
Activities
Planning involves the following key steps:- Establish the Strategic Planning Foundation. These activities establish a Strategic Plan and oversight process that shapes and guides the IT strategic planning process. A strategy project plan is established, defining key roles and responsibilities, identifying appropriate individuals to fill those roles, and providing the necessary executive leadership and resources for the project. The strategic planning activities are planned and tracked to ensure that they produce a meaningful HS IT Strategic Plan within the needed timeframe. During these activities, the key stakeholders agree on the preliminary strategic foundations, which include the IT Division's mission, vision, and guiding principles. This understanding provides the scope for the IT strategic planning activities, keeping the Strategy Team focused and results-oriented. As the strategic planning process is executed and the understanding of the situation and IT needs is refined, these strategic foundations may be adjusted.
- Analyze the Situation. These activities establish an understanding of three interacting environments: the world outside the HS Agency, the world inside the HS Agency, and the HS IT Division. This analysis forms the basic context for the other HS IT strategic planning activities by helping the Strategy Team, the HS Agency, and IT Decision Makers understand the current conditions, and trends in each one of these environments. As a result of this analysis, other programs and process requirements outside the IT Division's responsibilities may be identified, such as integrating multiple HS Agency needs (e.g., TANF and child care, transportation, or employment services).
- Formulate IT Strategic Direction. These activities describe the process for extending the Strategic Foundations to a level of detail more specific to the IT Division. These activities consider the HS Agency's and the IT Division's vision, mission, and guiding principles as the starting point. The objective is to establish more specific and measurable targets that can assist in moving the IT Division to the desired future state.
- Identify IT Initiatives.These activities establish the highest-level organization of actions to achieve the goals. Existing initiatives are re-examined to determine whether they align with the IT Division's strategic direction. Summary descriptions of the existing and future initiatives are produced.
- Consolidate and Publish Plan. The Strategy Team prioritizes each initiative and identifies the initiatives they deem most critical to the IT Division's goals. Based on the information compiled during the previous planning activities, the Strategy Team completes the Strategic Plan. The Strategy Team circulates the Strategic Plan among key stakeholders (IT Division Decision Makers and HS Agency Decision Makers). Once the key stakeholders' comments have been incorporated into the IT Division's Strategic Plan, the Strategy Team initiates the implementation, increases awareness of the plan, and promotes commitment throughout all levels of the organization.