There has perhaps never been a time throughout history in which technology and business are more interconnected than the present day. It is not an overstatement to say that rapid technological progress has fundamentally changed how companies and corporations operate in the globally connected 21st century. Under these conditions, business leaders who can leverage a combination of entrepreneurial acumen and up-to-date knowledge of information technology (IT) resources are increasingly valuable to any business.
The University of Illinois Springfield’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with IT Project Management Certificate program offers an ideal mixture of both these vital fields. Graduates of the program are well prepared to drive change in their organizations. While technology is constantly transforming businesses in unpredictable ways, the individuals who unify an innovative IT plan with their company’s mission and strategy help keep their teams ahead of the curve.
What Is IT Strategic Planning?
Anyone who has ever worked in the business world knows that strategic planning is vital to the success of any endeavor. IT is no different. As Pluralsight observes: “Transforming your IT strategy to meet business outcomes can cut costs and earn a massive return on investment — but it also requires careful consideration.”
To successfully complete IT strategic planning, a company needs to develop a game plan that allows it to use IT resources to meet business goals. According to Pluralsight: “The plan outlines the technology and funds needed to meet these objectives. By outlining priorities and the steps required to achieve them, business leaders and IT staff collaborate for the best return on investment.”
A successful IT strategy needs to align with a business’s goals, but it cannot be rigid or inflexible in supports of these goals. Because technological change is constant, the best IT strategies plan for the unpredictable. The objectives of an IT strategy should “accommodate new business priorities and technologies that could drive business growth,” states TechTarget.
The Benefits of IT Strategic Planning
Once the hard work of planning is complete and a company has an IT strategy, the positive outcomes are numerous. One fundamental way that a good IT strategy can benefit a company is through its impact on the decision-making process, as a strong plan provides a framework for teams to make critical choices. According to BMC Software’s The Business of IT Blog: “When making decisions, employees can use the strategic plan to ask, ‘Is what I’m doing in line with the plan (wishes of the organization)?’ or ‘Is what I’m doing opposed to the plan?'” This can help eliminate ambiguity and reduce the risk that employees are unsure about their next steps.
Another important benefit of having an IT strategy in place is the promotion of efficiency. Without a plan, it can be easy for a business’ IT costs to pile up or for teams to duplicate work unnecessarily. “One of the biggest benefits of IT strategic planning is that it allows for enterprise cost optimization to drive costs out of waste areas and redirect those funds to more valuable investments,” according to Planview. “The planning process helps the enterprise become more efficient, transparent, and streamlined with its funding.”
The Time Is Now to Pursue an IT Project Management Degree Online
There are many reasons to pursue an MBA. It’s one way for professionals to showcase their skillsets to future employers and further a career path. But in today’s digitally interconnected business world, studying an MBA with a concentration in IT Project Management can give professionals more than just a grounding in basic principles of business. For example, students in the program will take as part of their degree requirements a Business Strategy course, which introduces the fundamental skills necessary to oversee complex projects.
For leaders who want to do more than just accept the status quo and progress their careers, an MBA with a concentration in IT Project Management is the next step. It is an ideal way for transformative thinkers to effect real change in their organizations.
Learn more about the University of Illinois Springfield’s online MBA with IT Project Management Certificate program.
