Boost the Chances of IT Budget Approval (continued)
shareholders, customers, field force and employees, then gaining support to move forward with technology initiatives and securing a place on the business project roadmap becomes relatively easier to achieve, adds Noell.
Find Allies
Aligning IT initiatives with enterprise goals, however, is only one part of a successful budget strategy. Interpersonal communications and relationships can boost you to the front of the line - or boot you to the end - quicker than the time it takes to present your business case.
Measuring the pulse of the organization calls for effective communication between IT and other departments. "Because technology investments often involve large expenditures, the trend is for more shared governance over the decision-making process," says Jennifer Pitts, assistant professor of Computer Information Systems Management at the Turner College of Business at Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga.
With business managers as well as IT managers justifying the value of technology investments, relationship building must occur across several disciplines. The good news: "This trend has helped overcome some of the challenges commonly associated with technology decisions being driven by politics versus strategy," says Pitts.
Weigh Hard and Soft Costs
Although interdepartmental relationships are a key factor in clearing budget hurdles, they do not trump the importance of a fundamental business case. "Technology projects that cannot be cost-justified or are not aligned with the company's strategy are generally not resourced in terms of funding or personnel, regardless of the corporate politics," warns Pitts. (article continues)
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