What is a computer master plan?

THE IT master diagram is a reference document that describes the DSI conduct and DSI strategy for the integration of user needs in the information system. It therefore allows Project what SI will be on a 3 to 5 year old horizonwhile providing for the resources, budgets or projects necessary to achieve this objective.

What is the objective of the MI master plan?

THE Information system master plan reflects the commitment of the CIO to the general management and other organizations of the organization. So it’s A way to anticipate requests from different professionsin order to set up all the essential prerequisites in terms of technology, infrastructure or data security.

Therefore, this document is essential for:

  • Plan the structuring projects that will be entrusted to the information systems management.
  • Being them by distinguishing priority and secondary projects.

While companies must compose with increasingly limited budgets, This priority management has become a major issue.

How to develop a computer master plan?

The development of a master plan involves a strategic analysis, aimed at identify IT issues in line with the company’s strategy.

This analysis of the existing relates in particular to:

  • The strategy of the organization in the medium term. Here, it is relevant to carry out a study of the strengths, weaknesses and environment of society (using a Swot matrix, for example).
  • The strategy if. The company’s IT environment should be analyzed and carry out a technological watch.
  • The needs and the challenges of the various professionswhich must be integrated into the reflection.

This preliminary phase allows Transpose business needs to IT projectswhile retaining their strategic alignment with the challenges of general management. From there, the MI master plan can be available at the operational level.

After a diagnosis to confront the strategy adopted with reality, the company can design a action plan Including:

  • The Directorate of Information Systems Directorate, with a cutting over time of priority and related projects.
  • A budget synthesis.

3 tips for successfully implementing a computer scheme

The realization of a master plan of the IS cannot be improvised and it is essential to respect certain good practices to bring this approach to achieve.

Involve employees

If it is essential to read the needs of the different stakeholders during the analysis phase, It is just as important to involve employees when making the master plan.

Indeed, this roadmap for the coming years will have a significant impact on their daily lives. This is why it is better to associate them with this approach as soon as possible, while taking into account their remarks and suggestions.

Involve employees also consists of appoint those responsiblewhich will be responsible for piloting the priority projects provided in the digital master plan.

Design a master plan by profession

To define priority projects, The CIO must formalize the challenges of each management of the company : accelerate the launch of new products, reduce costs, dematerialize flows …

Indeed, These are the needs of the various services that guide the master plan of the IS. It is therefore necessary to qualify them with precision, because the project portfolios will necessarily be linked to business objectives.

In the insurance sector, for example, it is possible to build a computer scheme focused on:

  • An area of ​​activity: Iard, life insurance …
  • A market: individuals, companies …

In other words, the company can decline its roadmap in several variants depending on the context of each profession, its strategic objectives and performance levers to activate.

Update the computer master plan regularly

The implementation of a master plan is a long and complex approach, which generally takes several months. Nevertheless, once the document has been validated, the work is far from over …

Indeed, The roadmap must be evaluated periodically (For example, every 6 months or every year) to measure its level of advancement. In addition, companies rely less and less on long -term projections, preferring to adjust and update their master plan over time.

Hence the interest in organizing Regular stage points To take stock of:

  • The context and important events occurring in recent months.
  • The real alignment of the master plan with the main strategic orientations of the IS and the company, as identified during the analysis phase.
  • The progression of the main projects, the difficulties encountered and the lessons to be learned from it, the next structuring stages …
  • The planning of the roadmap, by putting into perspective the projects completed in times and late construction sites, but also future projects.