Assess your IT organization.
THE DISCUSSION
Have you ever used a Balanced Scorecard? When was the last time you valuated (is that a word?) the IT organization you lead? I bet your non IT bosses have done this assessment; if not formally at least unofficially. You’ve heard of outsourcing, right? Whether you are the team leader or just a member of the team you should do an assessment at least every six months.
Remember; if the service you provide is not providing value to the business they may go elsewhere for that same service.
There is plenty of information on the web about Balanced Scorecard’s but unfortunately most of us are too busy to work up a full and complete Scorecard as outlined on some of these sites. Many of these assessments are like the Malcolm Baldridge Award preparation, days and days of effort. I only get about 300 emails a day so I have plenty of time right. Right. I found the Balanced Scorecard off of Tech Republic years ago. I wasn’t able to locate the original file on Tech Republic but I have included what I believe is the original I downloaded.
This worksheet is a quick assessment of your organization in macro chunk sized buckets. Big is better is this instance. Drill down where you have problems. You’re not looking at the details during the initial look; you are looking at the organization being assessed at the big picture level. The main focus is for division leads with a number of subordinate branches. However, branch leads and team leads can use for their own units. You can use this tool in three ways: assess each branch (how is your server branch doing on backups or security patches), access activities that cross functional boundaries (how is your overall change management process or how is your COOP plan), or use a combination of the two. I tend to use combinations since this allows me to focus on branch specific needs and needed enterprise improvements. Again big picture analysis with the end result being specific actions plans.
THE ACTION
1. Determine your organizations core functions. For example in the past I have used patching, network monitoring and reporting, life cycle replacement, and trouble ticket completion to assess a Network branch.
2. Assess each function from 1-10. Look at the big picture but keep in mind you will need specific action plans for improvement.
3. If improvements are needed determine a Plan of Action for each needed improvement.
4. Assign each Plan of Action a project number according to your organizations project tracking.
5. Repeat in six months.
Hint: Determine the categories to be assessed with your subordinate leads. Then work separate assessments and compare the two. The results of this separate assessment will surprise.
-DO IT NOW AND ENGAGE-
