I often find that in many of the topics I write about regarding management of technology, there is a common theme or area that directly affects the maturity or challenges experienced in an IT organization… Strategic Planning.
As a key horizontal function in technology, IT Asset Management is constantly being challenged to stay ahead of what is needed or being planned for across an organization. Not knowing who needs what in the near to long-term future; who is buying what; why things are showing up on the docks of the datacenter without notification. This is not an effective way to run an IT Asset Management function.
For many organizations and leaders in technology, IT Asset Management is often seen as an extension of the CMDB, focused on Operations, not as an actual cog in the strategic planning and forecasting of technology. Technology is always focused on aligning to the strategy set forth by the business. What markets, customers, or regions are targets for opportunity and growth to generate value and revenue? Over what time frame? Monthly, Quarterly, Annually. How technology aligns its technology roadmap around what Applications or Services are needed to enable this business strategy is key. Portfolios allocated budgets, programs established, and projects approved. Good? Not really.
During this Annual Planning phase, IT Asset Management is often not included in the process as a critical stakeholder in the overall planning and preparation of IT Assets. What is in stock today ready for deployment, can assets be re-allocated, shared, or not? What is our procurement schedule like? Are the vendors prepared to support the acquisition of required IT Assets?
Obviously, if ITAM isn’t aware, then odds are their partners in IT Procurement, Vendor Management, and in some cases IT Finance are equally not prepared for what is in the pipeline.
More often than not, this ‘just-in-time’ approach will not only impact delays in Procurement but also have an impact across the IT Asset Lifecycle for other assets that are ‘begged for, borrowed from, or stolen’ to fill any gaps or delays in the supply chain. This is not a good place to find yourself in.
Start planning today, reach out to your Strategic Planning partners in IT Portfolio Management. Get ITAM plugged into those activities and processes, develop your ITAM Strategy around what you discover in those planning meetings. Meet regularly with your partners in Procurement, Contracting, Vendor Management, and IT Finance. Get proactive, be part of the conversation, and have a voice at all tables.
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