Business Technology Maturity Model
Technology has the capability of revolutionizing the operations of even the smallest businesses. It can provide a strong competitive advantage to organizations in any industry. When properly applied and managed, technology enables an organization to attain strategic objectives quicker.
However, it is a resource that is often misunderstood and undervalued, leading to frustration and missed opportunities. Understanding key aspects of technology adoption and management can give a clear picture of where deficiencies lie, and ultimately lead to a roadmap for success.
DELTEC developed the Business Technology Maturity Model through our experiences over the last several years. This model can be used to relate the maturity of a business with regards to the application and management of technology. This model is represented by a continuum, along which any organization can progress. Along the way, there are any distinct stages. As a business more aggressively adopts and manages their technology, they realize the benefits of strategically applied technology to their bottom line. It has been proven that organizations can lower their total cost of ownership and simultaneously increase their return on technology dollars invested by applying best practices of managing technology operations.
Chaotic
This is the stage that many businesses are stuck in, unfortunately. This stage treats Technology as a necessary evil, only spending the minimum amount necessary when critical systems come to a screeching halt. The IT department consists of a guy that is doing his best to keep everything going, trying to be a jack of all trades, but a master of none.
Proactive
At the Proactive Stage, the business is still in a cost-center mindset, but at least they are taking steps to better manage systems to minimize total cost of ownership. They have learned the lesson that planned updates actually lower IT costs, and that a 19 year-old server might be too old. Some outsourcing may be engaged to maintain and support systems, and provide additional expertise, but it is strictly limited in scope.
Managed
Once it reaches the Managed Stage, the business is getting away from a strictly cost-centered focus on IT, and understanding that there is am investment benefit.
The IT department is more open to outside resources and input. There are IT policies, plans, and budgets in place.
Strategic
At the Strategic level, technology is now represented at an executive level, and is involved in the discussions of business goals. IT an investment expected to add business value. Internal resources are focused on core competencies and outsourcing is used as a strategic component of the overall IT management strategy.
DELTEC Cycle for Continuous Technology Improvement
Improving the Business Technology Maturity of an organization is an iterative process, and cannot be achieved in one step.
At DELTEC Information Solutions, we believe that the successful planning and implementation of technology (IT) requires real understanding and focus on the goals and plans of the business. Implementation of technology solutions that truly benefit the business should be formed as a collaborative effort between management and IT resources. Technology should be viewed as a value-component of a business, requiring a re-tooling of traditional thinking, from a cost center-mentality to recognizing it as an investment center, a strategic asset, expected to generate positive gains for the business.
DELTEC follows the following cycle with our clients to move aspects of their business technology from the Chaotic stage through Proactive, Managed, and finally to strategically enabled IT management.
- You can begin this process by performing an assessment of the current state of processes, systems, and resources
- Work with key stakeholder in several disciplines within your company to gain their input, expertise, and buy-in on the needs of key processes
- Determine the target state of automation in key business processes, prioritize by greatest impact and potential return, and develop plans
- Once the plans are executed and leveraged with training, be disciplined to re-evaluate and refine goals.
