In Creating IT Strategy, Culture Counts

by Thomas H. Murphy

There are many opinions about what constitutes an IT strategy. In my view, the IT strategy has to start from a deep understanding of the short-, mid-, and long-term goals of the company. In the absence of clearly stated corporate goals, the CIO does not get a pass; he or she must make some assumptions based on observation. Assuming there are stated corporate goals, the CIO must have some specific artifacts to create a grounded, purposeful strategy that aligns IT actions to company needs and whose value is clear. One of these artifacts is the company culture. (Find more on the other artifacts -- maps, financial position, and market position -- in "Taking the Lead As CIO During an Economic Crisis," Cutter Benchmark Review, Vol. 10, No. 2.)