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Run IT Like a Business

The “Run IT Like a Business” category is an essential resource for CIOs, IT leaders, and technology professionals seeking to transform their IT organization into a value-driven, customer-focused, and efficient business unit. As part of our CIO Reference Library, this category offers insights, practical advice, and resources on various aspects of running IT like a business, including IT leadership, strategy, service management, and financial management.

By exploring this category, you will gain insights into:

  • The importance of adopting a business mindset within the IT organization, focusing on value creation, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency
  • Fundamental principles, frameworks, and best practices for running IT like a business, including ITIL, COBIT, and other industry standards and methodologies
  • Techniques for engaging IT and business stakeholders in the strategic planning process, fostering collaboration, and aligning IT initiatives with business objectives and priorities
  • Approaches to IT service management that promotes a customer-centric focus improve service quality and drive continuous improvement in IT service delivery.
  • Strategies for IT financial management, including budgeting, cost optimization, investment prioritization, and value realization
  • The role of IT governance, risk management, and performance measurement in ensuring the alignment of IT initiatives with business objectives, promoting transparency and accountability, and driving continuous improvement
  • Case studies, success stories, and lessons learned from IT leaders who have successfully transformed their IT organizations into value-driven, customer-focused, and efficient business units

By staying up-to-date with the latest “Run IT Like a Business” resources, CIOs, IT leaders, and aspiring professionals can gain valuable insights, practical guidance, and information on how to excel in their roles and advance their careers. Visit this category regularly to discover new content that will help you stay current with industry trends, develop your understanding of IT’s role as a business unit, and succeed in the dynamic world of IT leadership.

Leverage this 7-step guide to transform your IT department into a value center. Learn how to align IT with business goals, drive innovation, and demonstrate IT's tangible contribution to your organization.

Running IT Like an External Business

This case study provides a step by step approach to run IT like a business. From vision to goals to measured results this presentation is an excellent read for the CIO who wants to transform their IT organizations to a business like operating model. More importantly, it provides guidance to avoid the common pitfalls in implementing IT like a business as this IT organization was external to the business. Excellent Read!

Mastering IT Efficiency: A CIO’s Guide to Business-Driven IT Management

This guide outlines a structured approach for CIOs to transform IT into a business-focused unit. It covers key steps such as standardizing services, implementing SLAs, and strategic outsourcing to enhance efficiency and business alignment. Learn about the benefits, how to adopt a business-focused approach, steps to implement a business-focused IT management model, real-world examples, and tips for successful implementation.

Guide to Transforming IT: From Cost Center to Value Center

This guide provides CIOs with a detailed roadmap for transforming IT departments from cost centers to value centers. It covers new management models, investment strategies, and performance metrics essential for achieving strategic business alignment and driving value creation.

Why is Running IT like a Business so Difficult?

CIOs want to run their information technology organizations like a business because it not only creates superior value but also communicates this value to the other parts of the business effectively. So, what are the challenges they face in implementing this model of IT operations? This survey studied this issue and provides specific challenges IT organizations face in their implementation of a business like operating model. CIOs can learn from this challenges and provide effective responses to improve their chances of success.

Sample Deliverables Running IT Like a Business Transformation

This presentation provides sample deliverables from an implementation of IT transformation to run an enterprise information technology (IT) organization like a business. Samples include an implementation approach and plan, performance metrics and analysis. A good read to understand performance driven IT transformation to run IT for business value instead of cost optimization.<br>
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Governing an IT Organization to Run Like a Business

This presentation discusses a case study of implementing a governance model to run IT organization like a business – the key governance structures, and roles and responsibilities required to implement a business like model for IT operations based on a real life example. Good Read!

Framework for Running IT Like a Business: A TBM Strategy Guide

This framework details an approach to running IT like a business using Technology Business Management (TBM) principles. It covers key strategies, a comprehensive playbook, and the critical value conversations needed to align IT with business objectives, ensuring cost-efficiency and enhanced service quality.

Tool Selection for Running IT Like a Business

This whitepaper discusses tool selection for running IT like a business. CIOs are under pressure to demonstrate the value of IT. Running IT Like a business can help create and communicate the value of IT. A critical element of this strategy is IT service definition and pricing. CIOs need to select appropriate tools for this function. This whitepaper can help.