World Class IT

Metis Strategy’s World Class IT Assessment is designed to provide a comprehensive, 360-degree view of IT’s performance and to help evaluate where the greatest sources of value and the greatest exposure to risk lie. We have implemented this methodology at a wide range of leading IT departments within Fortune 500 companies, and we are proud to say that our clients have literally painted the collateral of our methodology on their walls, and made it a starting point for the IT strategic planning process.

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1. People

This is really the foundational principle. Without the right people doing the right jobs at the right time, it will be nearly impossible to achieve excellent performance.

2. Infrastructure

We like to say that this is the principle that separates proactive organizations from reactive ones. If infrastructure is not reliably performing its tasks, the IT organization will become stuck in reactive mode, constantly fighting fires. If systems and hardware work reliably, then a larger portion of the organization can think about the future.

3. Project & Portfolio Management

This is the engine through which new capabilities can be brought to bear on behalf of the company. It is important to ensure that projects are delivered on-time, on- budget, and on target, and that the portfolio collectively supports the objectives of the business.

4. IT & Business Partnerships

It is important that first and foremost, the different parts of IT from business analysis to development and QA through to support and all other aspects of the IT department communicate effectively and efficiently. It is equally important then that IT develop a partnering relationship with the business. If the three prior principles are done well, then IT should earn a place at the strategy setting table, driving different parts of the business strategy.

5. External Partnerships

Outsourcing is becoming crucial to corporations, and managing these relationships to ensure that value is achieved is critical. In the fourth principle, the organization has learned and contributed to the discussion about what is strategic and what is not. Once that is clear, then it will be easier to determine which aspects of IT might be better managed by external partners or vendors.

Over the course of just a few weeks of work, our team can help you evaluate how your team is performing not only in these five areas, but also the 33 sub-principles. We will evaluate people, processes, tools, and metrics relative to each principle & subprinciple.
  • Principle 1: People​​
    Recruit, Train and Retain World Class IT Employees​
    Skill Inventory​
    Workforce Planning​
    Clear Titles Roles & Responsibilities​
    Meaningful Evaluations
    Compensation & Recognition​
    Career Planning​
    Culture​
    Training​
    Retention
    Recruiting
  • Principle 2: Infrastructure
    Build and Maintain a Robust IT Infrastructure
    Infrastructure Roadmap
    Systems Set Up Time
    Maintenance
    Retirement
    Security
    Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery
    Help Desk/Service Desk
  • Principle 3: Project & Portfolio Management
    Field an Effective Project Development and Portfolio Management Process
    Idea Generation
    Prioritization
    Budgeting
    Portfolio Management
    Project Management and Execution
    Quality Assurance
    Performance Reporting
    Post-Project Analysis
  • Principle 4: IT & Business Partnerships
    Ensure that IT Partners within the Department and with the Business
    IT-Business Communications
    IT-Business Strategic Alignment
    Innovation
    IT Strategy
    Cross-IT Communications
  • Principle 5: External Partnerships
    Develop a Collaborative Relationship with External Partners​
    Vendor Segmentation
    Procurement
    Vendor Management

Sub-principles

Skill Inventory​
Workforce Planning​
Clear Titles Roles & Responsibilities​
Meaningful Evaluations
Compensation & Recognition​
Career Planning​
Culture​
Training​
Retention
Recruiting
Infrastructure Roadmap
Systems Set Up Time
Maintenance
Retirement
Security
Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery
Help Desk/Service Desk
Idea Generation
Prioritization
Budgeting
Portfolio Management
Project Management and Execution
Quality Assurance
Performance Reporting
Post-Project Analysis
IT-Business Communications
IT-Business Strategic Alignment
Innovation
IT Strategy
Cross-IT Communications
Vendor Segmentation
Procurement
Vendor Management

Our deliverables typically include the following:

  • A grade for each principle and sub-principle.
  • Comments on which principles and sub-principles are solely within IT’s ability to influence, and which require changes on the part of the business, for instance, in order to reach the highest performance levels.
  • Quotes from the various participants (unattributed to maintain anonymity), providing ideas of what the various types of participants had to say as they participated in this process.
  • Detailed recommendations for the near and long term for all principles and sub-principles.
  • External best practices related to those areas that are in greatest need (An overview of this is the second page of the attachment, but we provide detailed descriptions of the people, processes, tools, and metrics employed by the best organizations in line with the best practice research provided).
  • Metrics to use for each of the principles and sub-principles to ensure that progress can be tracked on a regular basis.

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