1. Assessing IT Situation
Overview for assessing &
understanding I.T. current state

2. The Assessment Roadmap
Objective: develop an efficient, actionable transition path from
current state to a realistic, significantly improved future state
Determining the current state of I.T. is the first
step in understanding and improving.
Gauging the current state against some
expectation or standard creates the
assessment.
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3. Assessment & Roadmap Flow
Current State Target State
Org. Process
Practice Gap
Readiness Readiness
Analysis
Assessment Assessment
Improvement Change
Change Plan
Portfolio Inventory
Tradeoff Program
Roadmap
Evaluation Scope
Release Program
Program Plan
Strategy Estimation
Program
Risk Analysis
Organization
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4. Assessment Setup
 What is driving your assessment?
 Who is sponsoring?
 Determine assessment purpose & mode combo
 Plan & execute activity appropriate to assessment
purpose & mode
 Assure sponsor(s) and area leadership is
supportive
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5. Assessment modes
Formal assessment Informal assessment New CIO
• Broad scope • Limited scope • Self performed
• More than casual • Limited funding • Formal or informal
coordination needed • Usually self performed • Lay of situation
• Assessment is potential • Little coordination needed • Quick broad exposure
significant driver • Assessment is not • Identification of
• Money signficant driver immediate challenges
• Direction • Topic is not controversial • Deeper understanding
• Priorities • Ex. Is our ChgMngt of strengths/weaknesses
• Topic is potentially process adequate? • Particulars of business
controversial & IT approaches
• Usually outsider performed • 1st 30-45 days
• Can afford to do it well
• Ex. Are we positioned to
implement ITIL?
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6. Evaluation Purposes
Value assess
Resource Cost
Competency Reduction
Business
Competitive
Credibility
Benchmark
/Satisfaction
Capability- Best
Maturity Practice
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7. I.T. Assessment Topics
Business
Management Data Center
Line
Development Security Telecom
Vendors
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8. Assess Topics Example – Data Center
 Service level management  Problem management
 Financial management  Configuration
 Capacity management management
 Availability management  Incident management
 Workforce management  Release management
 Infrastructure engineering  Change management
 IT service continuity  Security engineering
 Service desk  Security administration
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9. Assessment Activity Outline
Identify
Define goal of Determine
concerns or
assessment current state
gaps
Appropriate Gather Define
for informal? information objectives
Identify Define Develop
area(s) for mechanics for action plan
evaluation assessing with staff
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10. Formal Assessment Process
Prep Conduct Report
• Analyze reqmnts • Prep participants • Define current
• Develop plan • Do self-assess state
• Set team • Objective evidence • Generate results
• Develop tools • Compile • Deliver results
information • Archive results
• Verify
discrepancies
• Evaluate outcomes
• Validate
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11. Key Assessment Challenges
 Meaningful state comparatives & targets
 What information to gather
 Executing efficiently
 Overcoming fear & politics
 Overcoming internal personnel time & skill
constraints
 Lessening observational bias
 Focusing on what’s valuable
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12. Further information on this
Contact Mike
BCI provides focused consultation and
assistance in improving IT process & delivery
 IT organization evaluation  Turnaround management/temporary CIO
 Strategy and issue consultation  Project advisory or management
 Architecture direction & rollout
• Quicker and more accurate problem identification and solution
• More dependable delivery of key IT initiatives/projects
• Ideas for IT improvement that are tested & work
• An objective viewpoint that sees the whole picture
• Deep experience delivering business value through technology
Executive IT help & leadership when you need it
Contact: Mike Batton, President, Batton Consulting Inc. | mike@battonconsult.com | 630-443-7735 (O) 630-862-6799 (M)