Stage 4
Align Your Institution's Goals with your IT strategy

The last step of your preparation

Why do I need to align my IT strategy?

Tick: your business case is approved. Before you get started, the last step of your preparation stage is to ensure your digital transformation strategy is aligned with your IT strategy.

Just as your digital transformation strategy should be linked to your institution’s long-term goals, the IT strategy should be seen as a supporting strategy that enables the overall digital transformation. This is necessary because there will be a significant amount of work to be carried out in the IT space and it needs structure and focus. Finite budgets in a post COVID-19 environment also means that consolidating your efforts is a smart approach.

Failure to align these strategies will cause unnecessary headaches, roadblocks, and delays throughout your implementation project.

A guide for transitioning from on premise to SaaS ERP

Ideal for IT professional, this no-nonsense guidebook explores the 'why' and must considers' when it comes to moving from on premise to SaaS. Find out exactly what's involved in the transition from discovery to deployment.

How do I align my IT strategy to support digital transformation goals?

Simply focus on delivering quantifiable and qualitative IT services that clearly align with your institution’s digital transformation objectives and KPIs. Start by reviewing existing systems, platforms, networks and information management—such as educational content, student records, and reporting data—to see how they impact the overarching strategic direction.

Look for synergies that indicate you’re on the right track to improve the business value of IT. Are all investments and resourcing approaches contributing to a positive student experience, improved operational efficiency and high levels of information security and compliance? If not, make adjustments to ensure the IT strategy underpins broader transformative efforts.

How can I evaluate my current IT landscape?

It’s important to recognise that agile practices are the new normal. Traditional IT service management frameworks are becoming redundant, replaced by a more responsive IT landscape.

The future for universities and tertiary institutions is to optimise IT service delivery for different circumstances; you need to meet learner demand for better digital experiences, and meet your institution’s objectives to reduce costs, diversify income streams, collaborate and innovate effectively, and improve responsiveness and security.

Remember too, that your students are heavily influenced by their experience of consumer technology. They want digital services that offer speed, seamless integration, immediate feedback, and 24/7 availability—these expectations should be front of mind for institutions as they evaluate their current IT landscape.

What makes up an IT strategy?

An effective IT strategy is aligned to the institution’s mission and digital transformation strategy. Typically, that means it should: enable a modernised back-office, provide learners with a flexible and seamless digital experience, provide a strong foundation of data security and privacy and assist leaders, employees and teachers to make highly-informed decisions.


The IT strategy should also be flexible enough to continually adjust to changes in your institution’s goals for digital transformation.

What should I measure?

Measure the business value of IT as a result of cost optimisation and improved service delivery to students. An IT strategy aligned with strategic digital transformation objectives should also be measured on similar KPIs as executives report to senior leaders and other stakeholders.

Digital Transformation Hub

Our digital transformation hub is designed to provide you with the resources you need to prepare, enact and realise your digital transformation journey.

Start your digital transformation

The journey to digital transformation involves careful planning and consideration. We've devised four key stages to get you started and on your way.

Clear vision and strategy

Not every digital transformation strategy is made equal. Its success hangs on having a clear vision and strategy, from the outset. The strategy needs to be linked to the institution’s overall mission, objectives and long term plan, which means having executive buy in and sponsorship.

Make a business plan

Once you have outlined a clear vision and strategy for digital transformation, the next step is to build your business plan. A business plan is essentially your roadmap, outlining the steps needed to achieve your vision. You should approach it like an instruction manual, breaking your business plan into achievable and necessary steps.

Build a business case & gain executive sponsorship

You have the vision. You have the plan. Now you need to put it into action. Developing a business case that secures executive and organisational buy-in and approval can be the ‘make or break’ of your digital transformation.

Align with your IT strategy

Tick: your business case is approved. Before you get started, the last step of your preparation stage is to ensure your digital transformation strategy is aligned with your IT strategy. Failure to align these strategies will cause unnecessary headaches, roadblocks and delays throughout your implementation project.

Want to learn more?

Explore our industry page for more resources and advice on how SaaS can help drive your digital transformation.

Hear from higher education experts about the importance of aligning your transformation to your IT strategy.
Industry General Manager - Education
TechnologyOne

IT has a critical role to play in terms of connectivity and engagement: making the technology work correctly to achieve business outcomes.

Ready to learn more?

To take advantage of the opportunities SaaS ERP can offer your institution, complete the form to speak to a SaaS transition expert.