- Application delivery has modernized. There are increasing expectations on departments to deliver on organizational and product objectives with increasing velocity.
- Application departments produce many diverse, divergent products, applications, and services with expectations of frequent updates and changes based on rapidly changing landscapes
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- There is no such thing as a universal “applications department.” Unlike other domains of IT, there are no widely accepted frameworks that clearly outline universal best practices of application delivery and management.
- Different software needs and delivery orientations demand a tailored structure and set of processes, especially when managing a mixed portfolio or multiple delivery methods.
Impact and Result
Understand what your department’s purpose is through articulating its strategy in three steps:
- Determining your application department’s values, principles, and orientation.
- Laying out the goals, objectives, metrics, and priorities of the department.
- Building a communication plan to communicate your overall department strategy.
Build an Application Department Strategy Research & Tools
Start here – read the Executive Brief
Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should build an application department strategy, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the four ways we can support you in completing this project.Besides the small introduction, subscribers and consulting clients within this management domain have access to:
- Build an Application Department Strategy – Phases 1-3
1. Take stock of who you are
Consider and record your department’s values, principles, orientation, and capabilities.
- Build an Application Department Strategy – Phase 1: Take Stock of Who You Are
- Application Department Strategy Supporting Workbook
2. Articulate your strategy
Define your department’s strategy through your understanding of your department combined with everything that you do and are working to do.
- Build an Application Department Strategy – Phase 2: Articulate Your Strategy
- Application Department Strategy Template
3. Communicate your strategy
Communicate your department’s strategy to your key stakeholders.
- Build an Application Department Strategy – Phase 3: Communicate Your Strategy
Infographic
Workshop: Build an Application Department Strategy
Workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
1 Take Stock of Who You Are
The Purpose
Understand what makes up your application department beyond the applications and services provided.
Key Benefits Achieved
Articulating your guiding principles, values, capabilities, and orientation provides a foundation for expressing your department strategy.
Activities
1.1 Identify your team’s values and guiding principles.
1.2 Define your department’s orientation.
Outputs
A summary of your department’s values and guiding principles
A clear view of your department’s orientation and supporting capabilities
2 Articulate Your Strategy
The Purpose
Lay out all the details that make up your application department strategy.
Key Benefits Achieved
A completed application department strategy canvas containing everything you need to communicate your strategy.
Activities
2.1 Write your application department vision statement.
2.2 Define your application department goals and metrics.
2.3 Specify your department capabilities and orientation.
2.4 Prioritize what is most important to your department.
Outputs
Your department vision
Your department’s goals and metrics that contribute to achieving your department’s vision
Your department’s capabilities and orientation
A prioritized roadmap for your department
3 Communicate Your Strategy
The Purpose
Lay out your strategy’s communication plan.
Key Benefits Achieved
Your application department strategy presentation ready to be presented to your stakeholders.
Activities
3.1 Identify your stakeholders.
3.2 Develop a communication plan.
3.3 Wrap-up and next steps
Outputs
List of prioritized stakeholders you want to communicate with
A plan for what to communicate to each stakeholder
Communication is only the first step – what comes next?