November 10, 2009, 8:25 AM — by Robert A. Ryan -- Development of an IT scorecard is often a "once in a career" event for IT managers. Do not let your IT scorecard project fail!
The objective of performance management is to track organizational performance through specific performance measures, commonly referred to as an IT scorecard. These performance measures provide meaningful information to organizational decision-makers about the progress an organization is making toward a defined organizational goal.
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Here are 6 must-dos for successfully developing an IT scorecard for your organization:
1. Obtain executive sponsorship for your IT scorecard project. Your CIO and senior staff in your IT organization need to provide visible support for an IT scorecard, and commit organizational resources (i.e., staff, technology, funding) to the development and integration of performance management.
2. Select and empower a cross-functional internal team to develop the initial IT scorecard. Effective development of an IT scorecard requires expertise from different organizational units within your IT organization, in addition to input from your key customers and users. You should also include your Enterprise Architect or your Data Architect in your cross-functional internal team.
3. Consider using an external consultancy or individual expert to guide your project. Development of an IT scorecard is often a "once in a career" event for IT managers and staff. Using external expertise to develop and integrate your IT scorecard can help guide a successful project.
4. Charter the project with a clearly defined timeline to completion and measures of success. A project charter document will define the scope of your IT scorecard development and integration, and the level of organizational resources committed to the project. Throughout your project, your development team can review progress toward, and completion of, key milestones.
5. Develop a list of stakeholders to the project and reach out to these various stakeholder groups on a regular basis to communicate ongoing project activities. Your IT scorecard, when completed, will gain greater acceptance and use in your organization if input from critical stakeholders is obtained (and used) in the development process.
6. Rigorously track the progress of the project and take corrective action if at any time the project is failing to achieve key milestones. Do not let your IT scorecard project fail!
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Today's tip is derived from the book, The Business of IT: How to Improve Service and Lower Costs, by Robert Ryan and Tim Raducha-Grace, published by IBM Press, Sept. 2009, ISBN 0137000618, Copyright 2010 by International Business Machines Corp. For a complete Table of Contents, please visit the publisher site: www.ibmpressbooks.com/title/0137000618 |
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