1. IT Strategy Building Blocks - Strategy Map Approach
Dave Wallace, CIO IT Strategic Plan Project – Task Force meeting
12 September 2012

2. Strategy Map Overview
Overview of IT Strategic Plan Project Layers/Inputs
Integrated Approach
Strategy Development
Definitions
Strategy Map
Next Steps

3. Priorities, Risks and Timing Standards/ Interfaces
Overview of IT Strategic Plan Project Layers/Inputs
Students/
Potential Students
University Leadership/
6 Pillars
National/
International Opportunities
Faculties/Strategic Plans
Government
Vision
Mission
Principles and Values
Colleagues
IT Trends
Priorities, Risks and Timing
Architecture
/Blueprint
(Direction/Evolution)
Information/
Knowledge
Optimized
Applications
Integration
Secure, Common Infra.
Standards/ Interfaces
Project
Portfolio/
Budget
Services/
Budget
Performance
Measures

4. Building an IT Strategic Plan: Integrated Approach
Strategy-Focused
Identify set of strategic goals everyone works towards achieving
Performance Driven
Measure whether our initiatives help us achieve our goals
Key Elements
Vision, Mission, Principles and Values
Visionary Goals
Strategic Goals – the Priorities
Strategic Objectives – shorter term, practical objectives; contribute to strategic goals
Performance Measures & Targets – measure success of strategy
Initiatives – specific projects to achieve specific goals

5. Strategic Initiatives:
Strategy Development
Vision/
Mission
Visionary Goals
Strategic Goals
Strategic Objectives
Strategic Initiatives:
Project Ideas, Operational Ideas, Practice Ideas,
Guidelines & Operating Principles, Policy Ideas
University Strategy
Faculty Strategic Plans
Functional Strategic
Plans
Faculty “A” IT Plans
Faculty “Y” IT Plans
IT Strategic Plan

6. Definition: Visionary Goals
“Visionary goals are compelling, reaching and help an organization to progress towards an envisioned future”

7. Examples of Visionary Goals
Amazon: Every book, ever printed, in any language, all available in less than 60 seconds.
Disney: Be the best company in the world for all fields of family entertainment.
Google: Organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.
Microsoft: A computer on every desk and in every home. (besides who needs more than 640K of memory?)
Nokia Siemens Networks: Connect 5 billion people by 2015.
Sony: Embody changing the image of Japanese products as being of poor quality; create a pocket transistor radio.

8. Definition: Strategic Goal
“The desired end result.”
Major directions of the organization based on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT)
Long term perspective 3-5 years
Action verb – Improve, Reduce, Increase
Example:
Improve customer experience
Objectives
Initiatives

9. Definition: Strategic Objective
“Specific and measurable for accomplishment of a goal.”
May be several objectives contributing to strategic goal
Shorter duration 1-3 years, or smaller scope (branch or specific aspect)
Action verb – Improve, Reduce, Increase
Example:
Improve customer experience
Build personalization in services
Initiatives

10. Definition: Initiative
“Specific projects or activities aimed
toward achieving the objectives.”
May contribute to several objectives or goals
Time bound – start and end date
Title Test – should be able to give it a title (and a description)
Example:
Improve customer experience
Build personalization in services
MyWaterloo Portal

11. Definition: Strategy Map
“Graphical way to summarize and communicate the strategy”
Shows direct linkage between the Key Elements: Vision, Visionary Goals, Strategic Goals, Strategic Objectives and Initiatives
Builds an Integrated View

12. Drivers/Pressures (e.g.): Improve Service Access
Example Strategy Map
Drivers/Pressures (e.g.):
Government, Competition, Community, Enterprise Architecture, IT Trends
University Strategy
Vision and Mission
Values
Principles
Visionary Goals
Strategic Goals
Improve Service Access
Improve
Efficiency
Improve
Access to information
Improve
Student Services
Objectives
Improve channel management
Improve channel management
Reduce
Service Interfaces
Reduce System Redundancy
Reduce complexities in sharing information
Develop Common Components
Performance Metrics
Targets
Targets
Targets
Targets
Work Plans
Initiatives
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative

13. IST Retreat (28 Aug. 2012)
Brainstorm on Vision, Mission, Values, and Visionary Goals for uWaterloo IT
Just a first pass! Meant to start the process.

14. Vision for uWaterloo IT
Enabling excellence through information technology leadership.

15. IT Mission – Take 1
Through innovation and leadership, provide IT services that enable an exceptional learning and research environment at uWaterloo; to excite, inspire, and support our clients with the best IT solutions.

16. IT Mission – Take 2
Provide the highest quality technology-based services, in the most cost-effective manner, to support teaching, learning and research as it relates to the University’s mission and the IT Strategic Plan.

17. IT Values Innovation Trust
Integrity (in ourselves and our systems/services)
Efficiency
Transparency
Accountability
Knowledge (staff members are out greatest asset)
Approachable

18. uWaterloo Sample Strategy Map
Strategic Goals
IT from anywhere: Anytime, anywhere to exception quality standards.
Improve Info Access: Available, Authoritative, Open, Up-to-Date
“Go-to” for student IT services and access.
Enable Research.
IT Delivers: Enhance IT org to provide seamless, consistent services
Objectives
By 2013, a data map/arch as blueprint for Info Mgmt.
Improve student service effectiveness, integration.
By 2014, clear roles and responsibilities and governance to deliver IT services.
By 2013, provide open interfaces to enable mobility and interoperability.
Provide common standard IT services.
Provide innovative online courseware.
Grant
This is what we show to each committee for feedback.
We did not change throughout the process.
Increase publicly available information.
Provide enhanced communication capabilities.
Initiatives
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative

19. Sample Initiatives Visionary Goal: IT Delivers
Strategic objective: By 2014, clear roles and responsibilities and governance to deliver IT services
Strategic Initiatives:
Define governance, career paths.
Reduce helpdesk “runaround”. 1st pt of contact solves 80% of problems, 100% ownership.
Define turnaround time for IT services, review schedules for improvements.