What is the impact of the credit crunch
With financial markets as they currently are IT spend is inevitably going to dip. There is going to be greater focus on getter better return on existing investment through having clarity around what business support services are provided.
During these troubled times executive management define a strategy that sets out what they aim to achive, and in what timescale. The strategy could be survival, or expansion, or simply aim to be as flexible as the market dictates and reacte as appropriate. The question will be is the organisation suitably positioned to achieve it? If not, what needs to be done to ensure that it is.
It is at these times when it is useful to have well designed
business support service portfolio upon which an effectively managed support organisation can operate. A well designed portfolio of reduces operational redundancy, provides claity of purpose and assurance that they underpin corporate strategy.
However, there is a huge dependency on having a good management team that has the skills to establish and maintain an effective business support service portfolio, but also effect any changes that may be necessary. There is a simple 5 Step process to assist in assuring that that the management skills exist, whilst providing the opportunity to identify any shortages that may be present within the team.
5 Step process
Step 1: Identify key managerial skills and appoint team.
Step 2 (normal initial entry to process): Define existing service provision and service management skills.
Step 3: Identify business support service requirements - user expectation and corporate strategy.
Step 4: Produce a business support service catalogue - by function with key performance targets.
Step 5: Identify the review process and key data sources necessary to effect quality service management. Assessing performance against requirements and/or expectations. Involving key syakeholders as appropriate.........Goto Step 1