I’ve never met anyone who loves think, extensive reports, not even for their essential strategies. But we still create them. Why? Because we think it’s important. Working out the first steps in Business & IT strategies is essential, but we need to brighten up a bit.
Lean and Agile thinking works on this principle. We need to facilitate change, but create a good end-product. In ‘the business’, we know that this means that we should try not to predict the outcome. Simply point out the vision of our project. Business & IT strategy is not different.
Visualize the goals and vision we have has a lot of benefits. Within a group session we can, together, determine the outlines of our project. This means that we have the possibility to create a group feeling about the strategy we want to walk. The benefits we will create during these sessions and the visual sketch we create can be summoned in the following:
First, we facilitate the dialogue. The strategy sketch will serve as a reference point. It’s simple to understand and will create a shared language in the strategy we aspire.
Second, we can explore and trigger bright ideas within the entire project and strategy group. We can play and inspire new and exciting ways of looking at the organization and the technologies that are forehand.
Third, it’s a way to understand the essence of the strategies and projects we are developing. Pointing out the 7 basic questions (yes, wait for it… I developed a seventh basic and essential question, more of this later) we learn what’s important and what’s not. This helps us making choices during the project and the workout of the strategy finally can create more value.
The fourth, and probably most important, it gives a boost to the communication within and without the (project) organization. It makes stuff simpler and more interesting and inspiring to work with. Picture really do say more than words.
To put it simply: the right model makes sure we play on common ground. All involved actors can work in the team developing the rough outline of the strategy and the vision for our project. This means that we, finally, all can join the game. Instead of creating a vision on top-management level, or developing a project plan in the IT department.
Currently I’m working on improving this model with all the excitement that comes with it. I truly believe in this way of working and would love to have the opportunity to develop it further. I’ve used the Business/IT strategy canvas (in Beta) in some of the projects I’m involved with now. But it would be great to see if it works in different settings, and improve it even more.
Would you like to test-drive the Business/IT Strategy Canvas, together with me, in your own project? Let me know in the comments or contact me and I’ll surprise you with its effects. Thanks!
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