Inspired by an Article in McKinsey Quarterly on IT
1. How will Technology change the basis of
competition in our industry?
- Who are our emerging
competitors?
- How is technology helping us
win against traditional and new competitors?
- How can we use technology to
enter new markets?
2. What will it take to exceed our customers’
expectations in a digital world?
Questions to ask:
- How does our customer
experience compare with that of leaders in other sectors?
- What will our customers
expect in the future, and what will it take to delight them?
- Do we have clear plans for
how to meet or exceed their expectations?
3. Do our business plans reflect the full potential
of technology to improve our
Questions to ask:
- Has the P&L opportunity
and threat from Technology been quantified by business unit and by market?
- Will our current plans fully
capture the opportunity and neutralize the threat?
- What is the time horizon of
these plans, and have they been factored into future financial projections
for both business and Technology?
4. Is our portfolio of technology investments
aligned with opportunities and threats?
Questions to ask:
- How well is our Technology investment
portfolio aligned with business value with regard to opportunities and
threats?
- How well does the portfolio
balance short-term and long-term needs?
- Do we have effective
value-assurance processes in place to mitigate execution risk?
5. How will Technology improve our operational and
strategic agility?
Questions to ask:
- How does our business and
Technology agility measure up with that of our competitors?
- How do our Technology plans
increase our business and Technology agility?
- Are our sourcing
relationships increasing or reducing our agility?
6. Do we have the capabilities required to deliver
value from Technology?
Questions to ask:
- Do we have the capabilities
needed to drive full value from our existing Technology systems?
- What are the weakest links
in our capabilities?
- Do we have enough Techno-literate
executives?
- What is our plan for
upgrading capabilities?
7. Who is accountable for Technology and how do we
hold them to account?
Questions to ask:
- What is our operating model
for IT, and is it aligned with our business priorities?
- Who is accountable for
delivering business value from IT—both overall and by activity?
- Are those accountable being
measured using business-friendly scorecards that create the right
incentives?
8. Are we comfortable with our level of Technology risk?
Questions to ask:
- Do we have a comprehensive
understanding of the Technology risks we face?
- How is our level of
Technology risk measured, and is it aligned with the company’s overall
risk appetite?
- How are we reducing our
Technology risk on an ongoing basis?
- Who is responsible for
overseeing the level of Technology risk?
9. Are we making the most of our technology story?
Questions to ask:
- What are the key messages we
should communicate?
- How, when, and to whom
should they be communicated?
