IT Business & Application Assessment

An IT assessment is a comprehensive and thorough review of a company’s business environment and its use of applications and technology systems.  The IT business and application assessment is a collaborative effort with the organization to understanding how they are currently using and managing information technology, and how information technology is fulfilling both their existing and future requirements.  The assessment includes a review of the various aspects associated with the acquisition, distribution and management of IT resources, as well as a review of the staffing levels and positions that are required to support the organization’s IT environment.  The assessment also provides an understanding of the specific needs of the organization, and provides recommendations and/or options that will help the organization achieve their goals.  The end goal is to help the organization understand the maturity of its IT capabilities, and how it needs to mature those capabilities to meet the requirements of it’s business and IT stakeholders.  Many organizations promoting operational efficiency and effectiveness rely on a variety of metrics, repeatable processes, an emphasis on quality, and a focus on continuous improvement.

 

IT Architects provides a service to deliver a complete IT business and application assessment of your organization.  (Note: Depending on the size and maturity of the organization, this assessment can take 3-6 months.  Furthermore, the assessment below is an example and is customized to leverage your existing intellectual capital.  IT Architects also has a “fast-track” assessment methodology to assess critical business areas.)

A. Definition of Level 1* (Business Overview) – Current State Process Environment

1.  Define Current State Business & IT Processes

• Business Models and Process Frameworks

• Event Process Chains (EPC) and Process Blueprints

• Organizational and Location Model

• Enabling and Supporting Information Model

• Supporting Methods and Technologies Model

2.  Articulate and document “what the business does”

• Core business functions / capabilities

• Supporting business functions/capabilities

 3. Validate against Industry models for gaps and create the Process Reference Model

• Business Model, Process Framework, Process Blueprint

• Organizational, locational, information and technology relationships

 

B. Validation of Current State Processes & Identification of Business Opportunities

1. SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats/Risks) sessions to review and validate the Level 1 models and business understanding

2. Update and refine Level 1 models based on SWOT review

3. Identify key high-level weaknesses and areas of concern highlighted by the Level 1 models

4. Develop executive presentation for the business summarizing Level 1 work

5. Review feedback from business, refine and update Level 1 models

6. Plan Level 2 work to describe the business environment in more detail and identify specific opportunities for improvement

 

C. Definition of Level 2* (Functional Breakdown) – Current State Process Environment

1. Further refinement and extension of “what the business does”

2. Further refinement and extension of the Process Reference Model

3. SWOT reviews to validate the refined and extended models

4. Update and refine Level 2 models based on SWOT reviews

D. Findings & Presentation

1. Identify key business weaknesses and areas of concern highlighted by the Level 2 models and identify specific opportunities for improvement

2. Develop executive presentation for the business summarizing Level 2 work

3. Review feedback from business, refine and update Level 2 models and identify next steps

E. Possible Future Initiatives (Optional)

1. Develop high level Future Vision model to address existing weaknesses and close current state gaps

2. Develop a more in-depth Future Vision model to address specific weaknesses and current state gaps

3. Migrate models to a structured EA repository and business modeling tool for ongoing use to support business process improvements (See Continuous Improvement Framework & Plan).  (Note: IT Architects will attempt to identify process areas that are potential candidates for future standardization in order to improve organizational efficiencies.)

 

∗ The explanation of process levels (as referenced herein) are as follows:

♦ Level 1 represents the various business areas within your organization. 

♦ Level 2 is a functional breakdown of Level 1 high-level functions into sub-functions which are more tactical in nature.