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8 Different Types of Business Application Software

Chloe Henderson

Many companies automate their processes using different types of business application software to enhance operational efficiency and gain actionable insights into front and back-office functions. According to an Adobe study, 30% of business owners that adopted automated technology prioritized saving time while 25% wanted big data analysis. By saving time on standard procedures, employees can invest their efforts in more demanding tasks, optimizing workflow. Through this enhanced productivity and access to data reports, organizations can focus on increasing their profits and expansion. There are many types of business software, each providing organizations with unique benefits for enhanced data management and access to insights.

Benefits of Business Application Software

• Quality and Consistency - System software ensures that all operations are performed uniformly, creating consistent results. Therefore, businesses can ensure their workflow is consistent and expect the same outcome each time. By eliminating the time it takes to monitor processes actively, companies can focus on more demanding tasks.
• Time Savings - By automating repetitive procedures, software allows employees to focus manual labor on more complicated tasks, reducing time and human error.
• Metric Availability - Software uses real-time data from various operations, which can be collected and generated into reports and analyses to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Optimized Operational Efficiency - With reduced time, labor costs, and effort needed to complete standard procedures, operational efficiency is significantly increased.
• Minimized Turnaround Times - A software solution maintains consistent results through automation, streamlining processes, and reducing turnaround times for employees and consumers. This promotes growing businesses and the satisfaction of internal and external associates.
• Reduced Labor Costs - Manually performing tasks is time-consuming, expensive, and can lead to human errors that often require additional expenses to reconcile discrepancies. Therefore, project management software ensures that companies are minimizing the resources needed to conduct basic processes.

Types of Business Application Software

Studies show that multitasking is actually counterproductive to operations and can reduce company productivity by up to 40%. With an automated operating system, business owners can rest assured that tasks are completed efficiently by allowing employees to focus their attention on more intensive tasks. No matter the objective of an organization, there is a software solution to optimize nearly every process, including- 1. Human Resource Information System (HRIS) A Unit 4 study disclosed that globally, office employees spend nearly 70 days a year on administrative processes, costing businesses approximately $5 trillion annually. As HR is one of the most essential sectors in any business, implementing a human resources software program can streamline several clerical tasks. Recruitment, employee onboarding, record keeping, training, and payroll can all be monitored and automated through HRIS, which handles digital documentation. 2. Inventory Control System As one of the standardized business solutions, inventory management systems monitor stock levels, updates, turnover rates, and automates cycle counts. Integrating inventory systems with replenishment solutions enables automatic reorder points and point-of-sale (POS) systems to show real-time quantities on all items. This software application eliminates the need to assign employees to manually count, record, and cross-examine stock across multiple locations, saving time and money. Inventory control solutions can also alert users immediately when it detects an error or discrepancy so that warehouse management can rectify the situation promptly. 3. Communication Software In order to adequately exchange data, companies need to ensure that communication throughout all departments and locations is streamlined. Communication software, such as web-based email and Microsoft Office, is commonly used to enhance information sharing both internally and externally. However, organizations can also use a cloud-based system integrator to connect all existing software. This creates a centralized database that allows verified users to access reports at any time and work seamlessly with other departments. 4. Accounting Software Accounting software helps financial advisors monitor business performance by tracking real-time expenses, revenue, and the bottom line. With up to date information, accountants can ensure books contain relevant data, and the business remains profitable.

5. Service Management Solution Customer relationship management systems enhance every interaction between a business and consumer, such as transactions and customer service. An effective solution not only enhances the customer experience to save clients time but adequately addresses their concerns in an orderly fashion as well. 6. Reservation Software With a cloud-computing reservation system, appointment-based businesses, such as medical offices, salons, and restaurants, can consolidate in-person and online reservations. By integrating appointments from all platforms, companies can prevent understaffing shifts and overbooking clients, hindering customer satisfaction and loyalty. 7. Schedule Management System Modern cloud-based scheduling software allows business managers to access and alter employee schedules from anywhere at any time. Some providers offer a web-based interface and mobile app, along with an on-site monitor that allows management and employees to interact and confirm shift swaps and time-off. This accessibility ensures that users can change schedules promptly to avoid confusion and employee absenteeism. Schedule management software also handles labor budgets and payroll to monitor pay cycles and identify top-performers. 8. Demand Forecasting Software When integrated with POS and inventory systems, demand forecasting software can sift through historical and real-time sales and stock data to project future customer demand. The data can then be automatically consolidated and generated into detailed reports and analyses to provide actionable insights. With forecasting, organizations can prepare for spikes and dives in demand through proper inventory management, saving on stock and labor costs. There are different types of application software available to fulfill various business needs, regardless of the company's size or industry. Through automated project management solutions, organizations can save time, capital, and effort on standard processes.

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IT Strategic Plan: A 5-Step Planning Process (With Template)

Looking for a way to execute key IT and digital initiatives faster to support business growth? Sounds like you need a strong and well-thought-out IT strategic plan.

On paper, it sounds easy to do, right— “a well-crafted IT strategy should set a clear path on how you’re planning to enhance the business’s performance with technology.”

But developing and executing one isn’t a simple task. According to Gartner’s CIO survey , only 29% of CIOs consider their organization effective at IT strategy and planning. It’s a complex, time-consuming, bang-your-head-against-wall process (if you don’t have the right approach). 

Not to worry—that's why we're here. In this article, we’ll cover the key elements of an IT strategy plan and share a practical step-by-step process with examples to help you create and execute your own. 

Oh, did we mention you get a free IT strategic plan template ?

Ready? Discover how to create an actionable and execution-ready IT strategic plan the Cascade way!

In this article, you’ll discover: 

• What Is an IT Strategic Plan?
• The Benefits of IT Strategic Planning
• Key Components of an Execution-Ready IT Strategic Plan
• The 5 Steps of a Highly Effective Strategic IT Planning Process
• IT Strategic Plan Example + Template

Take Control of Your IT Strategic Planning with Cascade 🚀

What Is An IT Strategic Plan?

An IT strategic plan is a roadmap that outlines an organization's goals and objectives for using technology to achieve its business objectives. It provides a framework for making technology-related decisions and investments that align with the organization's overall strategy .

The Benefits Of IT Strategic Planning For CIOs

In today's fast-paced and competitive environment, CIOs use IT strategic planning process to:

• Set and align IT priorities with business objectives and goals. 
• Prove the value and impact of IT within the organization to increase credibility and influence.
• Assess potential risks and vulnerabilities, and develop proactive measures to prevent financial losses and reputational damage.
• Improve communication and collaboration by breaking down silos, ensuring everyone is on the same page, and rowing in the same direction. 
• Focus on IT projects with the greatest potential for impact and ROI, maximizing the value of IT investments and ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Help organizations stay ahead of digital transformation , technology trends and adapt to changing business needs, keeping technology aligned with organizational needs.

Key Components Of An Execution-Ready IT Strategic Plan

An execution-ready IT strategic plan is more than words on paper. It’s an action plan to improve your company’s technological capabilities and deliver business value. 

If you want to inspire alignment and drive ownership for successful strategy execution, your IT strategic plan should include these elements:

🔎 Focus areas : Where should your team focus the attention and efforts? What area of IT will have the most impact on the business strategy?

📌 Goals and objectives: What do you want to achieve exactly? Your goals and objectives are the outcomes you’re aiming for. 

💰 Budget: What resources do you have to achieve your goals and objectives? Are your plans realistic?

😎 Owners: Who is in charge of projects and accountable for their success? Your IT strategic plan needs individuals or teams to ensure it is executed.

📆 Due dates: When do specific actions, initiatives, and projects need to happen? Your IT strategic plan needs timeframes and deadlines to be enforced and acted upon.

📤 Actions: What specific initiatives, deliverables, or projects need to happen within your focus areas? Your IT strategic plan should provide clear and actionable steps for teams to reach goals.

📈 Measures: How will you track progress as your teams execute? Which are the most important IT KPIs your team should track and report upon? A solid IT strategic plan will have an element of progress tracking that promotes consistency and accountability .

👉 Click here to get your free IT strategic plan template (P.S.: The template has all the key elements described above and is pre-filled with examples so you can start working on it right away.)

The 5 Steps Of A Highly Effective Strategic IT Planning Process

So, now that you know which elements you need to include in your IT strategic plan , let's explore how to get there.

Here are five steps to achieve effective IT strategic planning and execution:

1. The alignment phase: IT strategy is part of your business strategy

While IT strategic planning focuses on medium-term goals, CIOs must consider the realm beyond their IT environment (i.e., your company goals).

In the HBR survey , 77% of respondents said the disconnect between IT and business strategies is resulting in significant costs. 

This is a vital consideration for IT leaders. You must be aware of the dangers of misaligned or isolated strategic planning. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your IT planning process is separate from other business processes or goals. 

To top it off, a study from Workday found that one-third (31%) of companies are rarely aligned on their digital finance transformation goals, with CFOs citing this as a top barrier to successful digital transformation initiatives. 

Focus less on technology talk and more on business strategy outcomes. 

Schedule a strategic planning workshop and kick it off with a recap and discussion about goals that the company is pursuing to understand how technology can help achieve those goals. 

👉Here’s how Cascade can help you:  

Use the Alignment View to get a visual overview of strategic alignment between your IT plan and business strategy. You can also use it to check how your existing IT initiatives contribute to the success of the business strategy.

2. The analysis phase: What should your IT strategy focus on

According to Gartner 's 2023 CIO and Technology Executive Survey, 95% of organizations struggle to develop a vision for digital change, often due to competing stakeholder expectations.

Sure, the squeaky wheel usually gets the most grease, but don’t use this as your base to identify strategic priorities. This approach won’t move the needle for the organization. Instead, focus on what will have the highest impact on the organization in the future and prioritize those initiatives .

As a strategic leader and changemaker, you’ve got to ask yourself: 

• How should the business approach these challenges? 
• What projects should we prioritize for maximum impact in the future? 
• If everyone’s investing in automation, cybersecurity/information security, and data centers, should we be doing the same? 
• Do we have enough resources to support our current strategy, or do we need to develop new resources? 

Researching IT priorities for your organization based on market impact is a good start, and you can do this with reports, industry research, and other data.

But, Gartner also suggests that you should also look to others within your organization to provide insights and different perspectives on priorities and challenges, for example:

• Leadership signals. 
• Stakeholders in the business who share your vision (Ideal Partners).

💡 Top tip: Your people and teams are valuable assets for identifying areas of IT investment. Bring key stakeholders into your strategic planning process to level up your strategic analysis and research.

3. The goal-setting phase: Who is responsible for what?

Next, decide how your IT strategic plan will filter into actionable projects for different teams to execute.

To drive outcomes, goals need to have owners who will manage their initiatives to completion. These initiatives also need to be aligned with your high-level planning as well as the organization’s broader strategic objectives .

Sound like a difficult balancing act? Not if you take a systematic approach. 

A simple way to get started with goal-setting in a strategy-aligned way is to use a three-column table.  

• Jot down business objectives and problems in column A.
• See how your IT strategy can support or improve them in column B.
• Assign project owners to each initiative in column C.

For example:

Column A: What are our business goals or problems? 

• Improve customer experience

Column B: How can our IT strategy support it?

• Optimize our data analytics capabilities and IT infrastructure.
• Implement new CRM software.
• Develop and deploy new digital solutions to improve customer experience.

Column C: Who is responsible for achieving this?

• Optimize our data analytics capabilities and IT infrastructure → Data Analytics Manager & Data Team.
• Implement new CRM software → Customer Support Team & IT Team.
• Develop and deploy new digital solutions to improve customer experience → Customer Experience Manager & IT Team.

Setting your IT goals this way will ensure that actions consistently align with your company’s strategic objectives. You’ll also be able to see if your strategic goals are realistic and within your budget. Plus, you'll ensure each goal has an owner rather than lacking clarity over accountability and realizing this in your next review. 

Once you’re done, go through your table and look for overlapping imperatives, opportunities to streamline execution, and how to prioritize goals. 

Additionally, share them with other key internal and external stakeholders, get feedback, and make changes based on their perspectives. 

👉Here’s how Cascade can help you:

With Cascade's Strategy Planner, you can easily set IT goals and align them with business objectives in a centralized platform. During setup, you'll be able to add a goal's owner, collaborators, due dates, and measure of success. Doing so can keep everyone on the same page and accountable for progress. 

Here’s an example of IT objectives and goals in Cascade:

4. The execution phase: How to get it right

The way you approach strategy execution can make or break the work you’ve put into your strategic planning. 

A successful and fast execution phase has two equally important parts:

• Building a clear and actionable execution plan with key elements developed in the previous steps. 
• Communicating this plan to your stakeholders. Not just to your IT department, but to everyone who will be involved or affected by the execution of your plan. 

To execute your IT strategic plan successfully, ensure that your stakeholders understand the IT strategy's goals, importance, and potential impact. Clarify IT governance, functions, and responsibilities, and establish communication channels to support transparency and cross-collaboration. 

Clarity and strong execution are critical to achieving your IT goals and delivering real value.

Here are two things you can do to get it right:

• Use visual tools: Create strategic roadmaps to communicate plans and timelines.
• Get the wheel spinning early in the process: Hold a workshop or meeting to officially kick off your execution phase. Use this opportunity to explain the strategic direction, who will be involved in the execution, and why you are doing it. 

👉Here’s how Cascade can help you: 

Simplify how you view your planning and execution: Cascade’s Timeline (Roadmap) view lets you visualize IT goals, plans, and progress in an easy-to-read Gantt-chart-style interface. Use it to plan and monitor your IT strategic plan in one place.

5. The monitoring and adaption phase: Stay on your toes

According to Gartner’s survey of 2,387 CIOs and technology executives, more than half of digital transformation initiatives take too long to execute and more than 50% take too long to realize value.  

Strategy execution isn’t a matter of set-and-forget or one-then-done. 

Plans must be acted on, projects must move forward, and expectations must be met. If you're not actively monitoring strategic initiatives, how do you know if you’ll be able to deliver the promised business value of IT? 

Progress reporting and monitoring should be a top priority for CIOs after a strategy kickoff, especially since only 18% of team members review progress on weekly basis. This means enforcing KPIs (key performance indicators), using the right tools to monitor performance, and regular check-ins with IT project owners. 

Sure,  it’s easier said than done at scale, but here are some tips to get it right:

• Use a performance management system: Use it to get an accurate picture of milestones, top performers, and address execution issues proactively.
• Be ready to adapt and optimize:  Any solid strategic plan will include long-term initiatives that can take three or five years to implement. A great one will be ready to pivot and change in the face of new technology, information, and approaches. Being flexible and open to new opportunities is essential to stay ahead in today's constantly evolving landscape.
• Stop wasting time with manual reporting: The old way of PPT presentations, Word docs, and PDF reports won’t cut it in today’s pace of business. Think about it—every second used to type, send, and read those reports could be channeled into achieving better business outcomes. 

👉Here’s how Cascade can help you: Leverage data sources from anywhere: Cascade's thousands of integrations allow you to consolidate disconnected business tools in one place, reducing context switching and helping to create a single source of truth.

Monitor progress with live dashboards: Use a powerful Dashboards feature to streamline insights into performance, monitor critical metrics, and promote data-driven decision-making.

Keep everyone in the loop: With Cascade’s Strategy Reports , you can instantly visualize data, contextualize any breakthrough or setback, and share updates with your teams in engaging ways.

Example of a report in Cascade.

📌Remember that successful IT strategies depend on:

• Proper research and planning.
• Involving different stakeholders in the strategic planning process.
• Setting realistic goals.
• Communicating the strategic plan effectively to a wider audience.
• Monitoring progress and adjusting as teams execute.

IT Strategic Plan Example + Template 

Get a headstart on your IT strategic planning with our IT Strategic Plan Template . 

What do I get?  This information technology strategic plan comes prefilled with IT KPIs, Projects, Goals, and Focus Areas to help you hit the ground running. 

What if I want to customize it? While it’s pre-filled with examples, you can easily adjust, modify, and customize input to meet your needs. 

Is it right for me? It’s perfect for CIOs, IT departments, and digital transformation leaders who need to create a strategic plan for their departments and show the ROI of IT initiatives to the leadership team. 

👉What are you waiting for? Start developing your IT Strategic Plan today. Click the link here and get your free template. 

✨ This template doesn’t match your needs? You can explore our strategy template library with over 1000 templates, including: 

• Digital Transformation Plan Template
• Technology Roadmap Plan Template 
• Digital Adoption Strategy Template

A well-thought-out IT strategic plan is critical for IT leaders who want their organization to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.

But it’s not enough to maintain a competitive edge and grow your business. Companies with growth-focused mindsets need a platform that makes strategic execution central to how they do business.

With Cascade, you can turn your IT vision into a future-proof strategic plan your teams can work towards and deliver business results. 

Start today with a free forever plan or book a 1:1 product tour with Cascade's in-house strategy expert.

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September 30, 2019

How does IT support your business strategy?

By SpiderGroup

Digital Transformation holds a different meaning for different businesses. For us, it means enabling businesses to move fully into the digital age, using technology to achieve your business objectives.

With more advanced technology becoming the office norm, it’s time to realise the impact it can have on your business efficiency. A strong IT infrastructure is the backbone to any strong business plan.

Start by identifying your business objectives

To start you on the path to a collaborative IT and business strategy, you first need to think about your objectives and goals. Where do you want the business to be in 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years...? Are you a market leader or do you need to stabilise yourself in the sector? Think about developing services you could be offering, or what your business is currently slow to deliver on.

Having a clear idea of your key objectives will help you identify what technologies will be necessary to get you there. For example, if your objective is to improve delivery speeds, you might need systems in place to automate some of your manual processes. If you want to improve customer retention, you may need better documentation and collaboration. If you want to grow your revenue, a way to generate and nurture leads will be important, and so on. 

Assess your current situation

Once you have your vision, you need to look at your existing technology. Understanding and assessing your current position helps you to understand what tools you already have at your disposal, and how far you need to go to meet your goals. 

• Take stock of your hardware and software
• Make note of how old your hardware is and whether it needs updating
• Identify who uses what systems, what is being used as intended and what has been hacked or bodged to try and do what your staff need it to do
• Identify what areas of the business have systems that aren't working
• Audit broken or non-functional items
• Identify security risks

Communicate at this stage with your IT personnel to gauge your IT strengths and weaknesses in comparison to your business goals. Establishing how your current IT infrastructure may be shaping, defining or holding your business vision back helps to view the two in unison.

Figure out how IT will get you where you want to go

It’s time to bridge the gap between where you are now and your business objectives.

Use the data you discovered in the previous step, alongside your defined business goals, to scope out what IT your business really needs.

• What technology will your business require to move forward?
• Do you need to remove manual processes with an ERP system?
• Do you need to improve customer service with a CRM?
• Do you need to solidify your apps and reduce overheads with Microsoft Azure ?
• Is your online server posing a current vulnerability to reaching your business plan?
• Do you need to move your files to the Cloud?
• Do you need to increase collaboration between teams with better software?
• Do you want to realise the benefits of remote working ?

The answers will depend on what you want to achieve in the near and far future. Future-proofing your business may depend on changing the way you do things now, but short term change can set you up to achieve exactly the growth and ambition you have for your business. 

Think about the wider benefits of different changes. Removing manual process with an ERP, for example, will free up employees to focus on more important activities, reducing the time cost of processes that can be automated. You can then either streamline, or redirect focus to higher value work. 

Mapping IT with business

Any change can be an intense process, so it makes sense to take some time and plan out how you intend to go about making your IT align to your business goals. Getting employees to engage with digital transformation is key to making a success of the project, so plenty of planning and communication will be vital. 

There is no sense in updating every single system at once if that means you have to change everything about how you operate all in one go. A staggered implementation might be more suitable, giving you time to bed in each change before moving on to the next. On the other hand, a sweeping change might make more sense for your business - getting expert guidance can be the best way to make sure any changes work for you. 

Map the new IT infrastructures you want to the relevant business objectives - that way you can prioritise and plan out your timescales. 

The implementation of your strategy

It’s important to stay involved with your IT team as you implement the plan. You may need to change scope as the strategy comes into fruition and the best way to understand this is to hear it first hand from your employees.

Change can often be faced with irritation but it's important to understand the difference between reluctance to change, and genuine struggle with adoption. Be on hand to support your employees.

Process and documentation will be your friends during this process. You need everything to be clear and consistent so that your new IT systems are used as intended - there's no sense in putting a lot of time and effort into a transformation project, only for it to fail because everyone is using the new systems differently. 

Keeping a rolling FAQ document will also be helpful - if you're constantly asked about the same topics, you'll know that more training and communication will be required to cover those areas. 

Communicate often and reiterate the reasons for the changes you're making - you want all of your staff to know exactly why you're doing this, and what benefits they and the business will see from it. If there are no benefits to your employees (even simply saving time or effort), you should consider whether or not the change you've identified is the right one. 

Meet the needs of your organisation

Your business strategy needs to be rooted in your business needs. Remember that IT should be an enabler and empowering tool, not a hindrance to your growth. The technology is out there, it’s just a case of research, investment and proper implementation.

SpiderGroup are IT experts and have helped many businesses carry out their IT and business strategy to achieve their goals. If you’d like some assistance with understanding how IT support can help you, get in touch with the team by calling us on 0117 933 0570 or you can fill in our contact form and we will get back to you.

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Strategic planning gets real when you connect strategy to delivery

The strategic planning process creates strategic roadmaps that make your plan actionable and track its execution enterprise-wide. with the right tools, you can compare scenarios, prioritize initiatives, monitor progress and iterate and execute to achieve your strategy. a continuous process empowers your business to pivot in response to rapid change..

Remember the days when companies kicked off an annual strategic planning event with The Vision slide? A few strategy statements set goals, and quarterly reports showed an unsurprising lack of progress. We’ve come a long way since then. Or have we? The reality is, nearly half of all strategic initiatives fail because companies don’t connect strategy to delivery. Let me repeat. Half of our strategic visions never become reality.

We are acutely aware that the rapidly changing business climate exerts powerful market forces. Technology and strategy , from digital transformation to disruptive innovation to technology convergence to workforce upheaval. Think Amazon Effect . We can’t plan once and be done. The way to stay nimble is to make strategic planning a continuous process that connects your vision to a roadmap for execution and delivery. Without a living strategy, you can go very fast in the wrong direction.

Constant evolution

A dynamic strategic plan evolves as initiatives are executed and feedback informs decisions about viable strategies. Planning becomes a continuous exercise where updates are based on what’s happening now, not last month or last quarter.

Consider the insurance industry. Lemonade, the only public benefit corporation in the property and casualty market, smashed the traditional business model with monthly premiums that start at $5 for renters and $25 for homeowners. Lemonade’s technology-driven strategy shakes up the industry with every new product launch. To confront this market threat, competitors need to pivot like a ninja. Waiting for the next planning event could mean loss of market share.

Strategic roadmapping

You can visualize your company’s strategy by cascading objectives into the work that needs to be done to make it happen. Strategic roadmaps turn strategy statements into illustrations of what the organization needs to accomplish to deliver the strategy. One of the most critical strategic planning tools you will use, these roadmaps connect strategy to delivery of the programs, projects, products, applications, services, and technologies that need to be developed. Work and resource management solutions allow you to prioritize work and optimize resources. They can provide access to the information you need to pivot the strategy based on market conditions, regulatory changes, competitor launches and technology advances. This gives you visibility into interconnections, so you can see the ripple effects.

Scenarios and trade-offs

When you think about how best to achieve a strategic objective, there are countless options and potential outcomes. You need to choose initiatives that will return the most value. That means creating multiple scenarios, performing what-if analyses and comparing trade-offs in time, cost, risk, margin, value, capacity, competitiveness and other factors. This gets unwieldy if you’re using spreadsheets, worse when they become multiple versions of the truth. Enterprise-class tools create a central source of truth, which makes maximizing value a simpler task.

Here’s an example: the Volvo Group is a global manufacturer of trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engines. When the Volvo Group set a new strategic direction, it prioritized and aligned initiatives with corporate strategies. One goal was to maximize returns by improving management of three multi-billion kronor investment portfolios. A cloud solution for enterprise-wide portfolio and resource management consolidated the view of these projects, allowing the Group to prioritize projects based on budget and alignment to strategy, and analyze profitability based on budget scenarios.

Data-based decisions

When the strategic planning process is built on real-time data and analytics, your company can shift from making reactive decisions based on gut feelings, to proactive decisions based on accurate information. Monitoring, reporting and dashboard tools provide the transparency you need to track progress, measure performance, and understand impacts. Forward-looking reporting allows your company to predict potential risks and opportunities, pivot on strategy, and iterate and execute an evolving plan.

Technology organizations play a pivotal role in not only helping to drive these data-based decisions, but also defining the capabilities and technology required to drive change and transformation. Technology teams can bridge the gaps between the capabilities you have and the capabilities you need to integrate transformative technologies into your business. By engaging in the strategic planning process early and often, your technology organization can architect the landscape demanded for strategic execution of a vital, living plan.

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ITSM for high-velocity teams

What is it service management (itsm).

IT service management—often referred to as ITSM—is simply how IT teams manage the end-to-end delivery of IT services to customers. This includes all the processes and activities to design, create, deliver, and support IT services. 

The core concept of ITSM is the belief that IT should work as a service. A typical ITSM scenario could involve asking for new hardware, like a laptop. You would submit your request through a portal, file a ticket with all relevant information, and kick off a repeatable workflow. Then, the ticket would land in the IT team’s queue, where incoming requests would be sorted and addressed according to importance.

Atlassian for ITSM

The basics you need to know about ITSM with Atlassian – across IT delivery, operations, and support, plus best practices and tips.

Due to their day-to-day interactions with IT, people often misconstrue ITSM as basic IT support. In fact, they’re different. ITSM teams oversee all kinds of workplace technology, from laptops to servers to business-critical software applications. While IT teams focus on managing and maintaining technology infrastructure, ITSM teams are specifically dedicated to optimizing and delivering efficient IT services to meet organizational needs and user expectations.

A common line of thinking in the IT industry is that a proper approach to ITSM should follow three steps in this order: 1) Build and implement IT technology. 2) Bring in and enforce the right process. 3) People learn the technology and abide by the process. 

Atlassian flips that paradigm.

At Atlassian, the team comes first . We’ve even created a team playbook to provide tools that help teams improve how they work. IT teams should be continually learning and improving. They must feel valued and empowered to make a difference in the company. 

Rather than adhering to rules imposed by tiered reporting structures or rigid processes, IT teams can make informed decisions about adopting SLAs and which software they should implement. Strong IT teams are pivotal in fostering productivity and driving digital transformation, making them indispensable for robust company performance. IT teams are the core of IT Service Management (ITSM) processes and technologies.

After focusing on the strength of the IT team, it’s possible to develop unique practices and capabilities to provide value to the company. No matter how reputable the source, it’s insufficient to simply “copy and paste” another company’s set of standards, and hope they will work in your unique environment. 

Successful IT teams craft their approach by drawing from frameworks like ITIL (the Information Technology Infrastructure Library) and carefully adapting processes to align with the needs and preferences of their customers.

Finally, software and technology should support a team’s practices and amplify their impact. The best ITSM software fosters cross-team collaboration, empowers end-users, and automates mundane or routine tasks—giving everyone more time to focus on what matters most. We've all seen instances where technology becomes a hindrance, introducing unnecessary complexity and frustration. 

When technology operates seamlessly, it may seem like magic, but in truth, it’s a reflection of the hard work of the teams that use it.

What is an IT service?

In the context of ITSM, an IT service refers to delivering technology-related support and solutions to end-users or customers. This encompasses a wide range of workplace technologies, including laptops, servers, and business-critical software applications. ITSM teams handle requests and incidents related to these services through structured processes, ensuring service efficiency, reliability, and user satisfaction.

What is an ITSM framework?

Frameworks are tools that provide ITSM with standardized practices and procedures. Frameworks can provide a platform that monitors continuous improvement for service delivery and support. 

ITSM is an IT service management framework that provides services for various IT functions. It defines operating procedures, techniques, and supporting services that deliver efficiency and value to an underlying system's operation. Frameworks help companies define their ITSM strategy.

Popular ITSM frameworks

IT teams use a variety of frameworks to guide their work. The two most common are ITSM and DevOps. Other concepts include COBIT, SIAM, IT4IT, lean, and more. 

Below, we’ll cover two of the most influential frameworks for modern IT teams—ITSM and DevOps—along with a common approach to ITSM. Let’s start by defining some key terms:

As mentioned above, IT Service Management is how IT teams manage the delivery of IT services to customers. How a team approaches ITSM can be structured to align with ITIL practices and influenced by DevOps concepts.

ITIL is the most widely accepted approach to ITSM. ITIL focuses on practices for aligning IT services with business needs. ITIL can help companies adapt to ongoing transformation and scale. 

ITIL 4, the recent update to ITIL standards, represents a paradigm shift for IT teams. It guides teams to a holistic, business, and customer-value frame of reference and encourages a more flexible approach based on how your team works. The ITIL 4 Guiding Principles promote collaboration, simplicity, and feedback. 

People sometimes misrepresent ITIL as “the rules” rather than guidance, but that's open to interpretation. Just because we need to use processes and document work doesn’t mean we should generate cumbersome masses of records and bureaucratic overhead. There is no excuse for hiding behind processes or the ITIL “rules.”

DevOps  emphasizes accelerated IT service delivery enabled by agile and lean practices. DevOps improves collaboration between software development and IT operations teams so companies can build, test, and release software faster and more reliably. Notable benefits include increased trust, faster software releases , quickly solving critical issues, and better managing unplanned work.

Though DevOps includes continuous development , integration, and automated delivery, the concept is based on building a culture of collaboration between teams that historically functioned in relative siloes. Much of the context and ethos behind DevOps is about moving away from old divisions and working together. Unfortunately, people often see this pertaining to just ‘Dev’ and not ‘Ops.’ 

People typically pitch ITSM and DevOps against each other as an ‘either/or’ decision – “we are an ITSM or a DevOps house.” There is confusion about what ITSM and DevOps deliver and how they could work together. Modern, high-performing teams realize they need to be able to work both smarter and quicker but still require process and control. 

It’s time to move beyond the ITSM vs DevOps ultimatum and use elements of both—whether you explicitly follow frameworks or not. DevOps is much more than just automated development and promotes the importance of collaboration and a blame-free culture. Moreover, ITSM and the ITIL approach shouldn’t be pigeonholed as an administrative burden but used in an agile way to fit different companies' unique needs.

Why is ITSM important?

ITSM benefits your IT team, and service management principles can improve your entire company. ITSM leads to efficiency and productivity gains. A structured approach to service management also aligns IT with business goals, standardizing the delivery of services based on budgets, resources, and results. It reduces costs and risks and ultimately improves the customer experience. 

Some of the most common benefits of ITSM include:

• Aligning IT teams with business priorities tracked through success metrics
• Enabling cross-team collaboration 
• Bringing IT teams and development teams together through streamlined project management approaches
• Empowering IT teams to share knowledge and continuously improve
• Improving request coordination for more efficient service 
• Promoting customer-centricity with self-service and better processes 

Responding more quickly to major incidents, and preventing future ones

All of which decrease costs and lead to better service, as well as enhanced employee and customer satisfaction.

ITSM processes and services

ITIL 4 recently shifted from recommending ITSM “processes” to introduce 34 ITSM “practices.” Their reasoning for this updated terminology is so that “elements such as culture, technology, information, and data management can be considered to get a holistic vision of the ways of working.” This comprehensive approach better reflects the realities of modern companies.

Here, we won’t worry about the differences in terminology. What’s important, regardless of your team's framework, is that modern IT service teams use resources and follow repeatable procedures to deliver consistent, efficient service. In fact, leveraging practice or process is what distinguishes ITSM from IT. 

Outlined below are some of the core ITSM processes:

Service request management

Service request management is a repeatable procedure for handling a wide variety of customer service requests, including requests for access to applications, software enhancements, and hardware updates. The service request workstream often involves recurring requests and benefits greatly from enabling customers with knowledge and automating certain tasks.

Knowledge management

Knowledge management  is the process of creating, sharing, using, and managing a company’s knowledge and information. It refers to a multidisciplinary approach to achieving company objectives by making the best use of knowledge.

IT asset management

IT asset management (also known as ITAM) ensures a company’s assets are accounted for, deployed, maintained, upgraded, and properly disposed of when the time comes. In short, it's the process of ensuring that valuable items, whether tangible or intangible, are being tracked and used correctly.

Incident management

Incident management is the process of responding to an unplanned event or service interruption and restoring the service to its operational state. Considering all the software services businesses rely on today, there are more potential failure points than ever, so this process must be ready to quickly respond to and resolve issues.

Problem management

Problem management is the process of identifying and managing the causes of incidents within an IT service. Problem management is not only about identifying and resolving incidents but also finding and understanding the underlying causes of an incident and identifying the best method for eliminating the root causes.

Change management

Change management  ensures standard procedures are used for efficient and prompt handling of all IT infrastructure changes, whether rolling out new services, managing existing ones, or resolving problems in the code. Effective change management provides the context and visibility necessary to avoid bottlenecks and minimize risk.

ITSM software and tools

ITSM software enables IT teams to align with business needs and take a strategic approach to change, transformation, and growth. A wide variety of ITSM software tools are available in the market, from standalone applications to platform services. 

We often hear IT teams complain that the traditional ITSM systems and tools they use are inflexible and, consequently, difficult to customize and adapt to evolving requirements. There also tend to be different tools for the various ITSM processes. 

Modular tools create barriers, silo end users, and cause a lack of visibility across teams. Traditional ITSM tools are often difficult to deploy and manage, leaving end users to adopt tools that aren’t intuitive, which also leads to deficient or non-existent self-service ITSM capabilities.

Choosing the right service desk software for your business is critical, as the service desk is the foundation of a robust ITSM solution. The service desk serves as the interface between customers and the IT team. 

ITIL itself defines a service desk as “the single point of contact between the service provider and the users. A typical service desk manages incidents and service requests, and also handles communication with the users.” 

The service desk should also play an important role in managing other ITSM practices. Consider whether your service desk and other ITSM tools meet the following requirements:

• Easy to use and set up : Comes with a clean, intuitive self-service portal that makes it easy to request help, search for knowledge, and track progress on issues.
• Enables collaboration : Provides a platform for developers and cross-functional teams to work together for faster issue resolution.

Adapts to your needs : Is flexible enough to support any resolution, escalation, or change process your IT teams might dream up.

The choice of service desk software is pivotal, as it forms the foundation of a robust ITSM solution, serving as the interface between customers and the IT team. Jira Service Management stands out as a solution that addresses these challenges, offering an easy-to-use self-service portal, facilitating collaboration among teams, and providing the flexibility needed to support diverse IT resolution, escalation, and change processes.

Accelerating value with collaborative ITSM strategies

ITSM stands at the center of modernizing companies. As the rise of software-powered services accelerates, IT service teams enable employees and teams across companies to deliver value more quickly. The role of the IT team has transformed from supporting the business to actively differentiating the business itself. It’s time to move toward approaches to ITSM that emphasize collaboration, ease of use, and faster value delivery.

Jira Service Management is a valuable platform for ITSM initiatives. It not only supports seven essential ITSM practices but also provides a comprehensive ITSM template . This template facilitates the implementation of key service management workflows, ensuring a quick and efficient start to ITSM processes. By seamlessly integrating with collaborative practices and emphasizing ease of use, Jira Service Management is a strategic tool for IT teams looking to enhance their ITSM strategies and drive value at an accelerated pace.

What is service request management? A guide

Service Request Management enables IT teams to quickly and easily fulfill customer requests. Check out the process and best practices.

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Home > Business > Business Startup

• 5 Best Business Plan Software and Tools in 2023 for Your Small Business

Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure .

A business plan can do a lot for your business. It can help you secure investors or other funding. It can give your company direction. It can keep your finances healthy. But, if we’re being honest, it can also be a pain to write.

Luckily, you don’t have to start from scratch or go it alone. Business plan software and services can help you craft a professional business plan, like our top choice LivePlan , which provides templates, guidance, and more.

You’ve got quite a few choices for business plan help, so we’re here to help you narrow things down. Let’s talk about the best business plan tools out there.

• LivePlan : Best overall
• BizPlanBuilder : Most user-friendly
• Wise Business Plans : Best professional service
• Business Sorter : Best for internal plans
• GoSmallBiz.com : Most extra features
• Honorable mentions

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LivePlan: Best overall business plan software

Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With annual billing

LivePlan has been our favorite business plan software for a while now, despite the stiff competition.

There’s a lot to like about LivePlan. It has pretty much all the features you could want from your business plan software. LivePlan gives you step-by-step instructions for writing your plan, helps you create financial reports, lets you compare your business’s actual financials to your plan’s goals, and much more. And if you ever need inspiration, it includes hundreds of sample business plans that can guide your writing.

LivePlan software pricing

But the best part? You get all that (and more) at a very competitive price. (You can choose from annual, six-month, or monthly billing.) While LivePlan isn’t quite the cheapest business plan builder out there, it’s not too far off either. And if comes with a 60-day money back guarantee. So there’s no risk in trying LivePlan out for yourself.

With a great balance of features and cost, LivePlan offers the best business plan solution for most businesses.

BizPlanBuilder: Most user-friendly

Need something easy to use? BizPlanBuilder fits the bill.

BizPlanBuilder doesn’t have a flashy, modern user interface―but it does have a very clear, intuitive one. You’ll be able to see your plan’s overall structure at a glance, so you can quickly navigate from your title page to your market trend section to that paragraph on your core values. And as you write, you’ll use a text editor that looks a whole lot like the word processing programs you’re already familiar with.

BizPlanBuilder software pricing

Data effective 3/13/23. At publishing time, amounts, rates, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

BizPlanBuilder also offers lots of helpful guidance for actually writing your plan. It gives you pre-written text, in which you just have to fill in relevant details. It offers explanations for what information you need to include in each section of your plan and way. It even gives you helpful tips from experts, so you’ll have all the information you need to plan like a pro.

So if you want planning software with almost no learning curve, you’ll like BizPlanBuilder.

Wise Business Plans: Best professional service

• Custom quote

Unlike all the other companies on this list, Wise Business Plans doesn’t offer software. Instead, it offers professional business plan writing services―meaning someone does all the hard work for you.

Now, you might think that sounds expensive―and you’re probably right (you have to request a custom quote for your plan). But there’s a lot to be said for expertise, and Wise Business Plans has plenty of that. Your business plan will get written by an experienced writer (with an MBA, no less). They’ll get information from you, do their own research, and then write your plan. You get one free revision, and you can always pay for more.  

Wise Business Plans service pricing

Your end result will be a polished, entirely original business plan. (You can even get printed copies.) And best of all, you won’t have to spend your precious time working on the plan yourself. Wise Business Plans takes care of all the hard parts, and makes your business look good while doing it. Sounds like a service worth paying for, right?

Put simply, if you want the most professional business plan possible, we recommend using Wise Business Plans’s writing service.

Business Sorter: Best for internal plans

Many businesses need plans to show to people outside the company (to get financing, for example). But what if you just need a plan for internal use? In that case, we suggest Business Sorter.

Business Sorter uses a unique card-based method to help you craft the perfect business plan. (You can watch a demo video to see how it works.) You’ll plan some of the usual things, like finances and marketing. But Business Sorter also lets you make plans for specific teams and team members. It also emphasizes more internal matters, like operations, that might get overlooked in a business plan for outsiders.

Business Sorter software pricing

After you’ve made your business plan, Business Sorter also helps you stay accountable to it. You can create tasks, give them deadlines, and assign them to team members―giving you basic project management tools to make sure your business plans become business actions. (Oh, and did we mention that Business Sorter has the lowest starting prices of any software on this list?)

It all adds up to a business plan software that works great for internal planning.

GoSmallBiz: Most extra features

Want to get way more than just business planning software? Then you probably want GoSmallBiz.

See, GoSmallBiz offers business plan software as part of its service―but it’s just one part of a much bigger whole. You also get everything from discounts on legal services to a website builder to a CRM (customer relationship manager) to business document templates. And more. In other words, you get just about everything you need to get your startup off the ground.

GoSmallBiz software pricing

Don’t worry though―you still get all the business planning help you need. GoSmallBiz gives you business plan templates, step-by-step instructions, and the ability to create financial projections. And if you get stuck, GoSmallBiz will put you in touch with experts who can offer advice.

If you want business planning and much, much more, give GoSmallBiz a try.

• PlanGuru : Best financial forecasting
• EnLoop : Cheapest tool for startups

We recommend the software above for most business planning needs. Some businesses, though, might be interested in these more specialized planning software.

Honorable mention software pricing

Planguru: best financial forecasting features.

PlanGuru is pretty pricey compared to our other picks, but you might find its forecasting features worth paying for. It has more forecasting methods than other software (over 20) plus it lets you forecast up to 10 years.

EnLoop: Cheapest tool for startups

EnLoop doesn’t have our favorite features or interface, but it does have really, really low pricing plus a seven-day free trial. It's the most affordable software for startup business planning and still provides all the essential features like financial analysis, team collaboration, charting, and more.

Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. * With annual billing

Several of our previous favorite planning software, including BusinessPlanPro and StratPad, seem to have gone out of business.

A business plan is a written, living document that tells the story of your business and what you plan to do with it. It serves as the source of truth for you—the business owner—as well as potential partners, employees, and investors, but it also serves as a roadmap of what you want your business to be.

Why you need a business plan

While some small-business owners don’t see the point of creating a formal business plan, it can have some concrete benefits for your business. For example, one 2016 study found that business owners with written plans are more successful than those that don’t. 1

Still too vague? Then let’s get specific.

If you ever seek business funding (from, say, banks, angel investors , or venture capitalists ), you’ll have to prove that your business deserves the money you want. A formal business plan―complete with financial data and projections―gives you a professional document you can use to make your case. (In fact, most potential investors will expect you to have a business plan ready.)

Even if you’re not seeking funding right now, a business plan can help your business. A formal plan can guide your business’s direction and decision making. It can keep your business accountable (by, for example, seeing if your business meets the financial projections you included). And a formal plan offers a great way to make sure your team stays on the same page.

What to include in your business plan

Not all business plans are created equal. To make a really useful business plan, you’ll want to include a number of elements:

• Basic information about your business
• Your products/services
• Market and industry analysis
• What makes your business competitive
• Strategies and upcoming plans
• Your team (and your team’s background)
• Current financial status
• Financial and market projections
• Executive summary

Of course, you can include more or fewer elements―whatever makes sense for your business. Just make sure your business plan is comprehensive (but not overwhelming).

How business plan software can help

With so many elements to include, business plan creation can take a while. Business plan software tries to speed things up.

Most business plan software will include prompts for each section. In some cases, you can just fill in your business’s specific information, and the software will write the text for you. In other cases, the software will give you specific guidance and examples, helping you write the text yourself.

Plus, business plan software can help you stay organized. You’ll usually get intuitive menus that let you quickly flip through sections. So rather than endlessly scrolling through a long document in a word processor, you can quickly find your way around your plan. Some software even lets you drag and drop sections to reorganize your plan.

Sounds way easier than just staring at a blank page and trying to start from scratch, right?

Choosing business plan software

To find the right business plan builder for your business, you’ll want to compare features. For example, would you rather write your own text, getting prompts and advice from your software? Or would you rather go with a fill-in-the-blank method?

Likewise, think about the elements you need. If your plan will have a heavy focus on finances, you’ll want to choose business plan software with robust financial projection features. If you care more about market and competitor analysis, look for software that can help with that research.

You may also want to find business plan software that integrates with your business accounting software . Some plan builders will import data from Xero, QuickBooks, etc. to quickly generate your financial data and projections.

And of course, you’ll want to compare prices. After all, you always want to end up with software that fits your business budget.

The right business plan software can make your life easier. With LivePlan ’s wide breadth of features and online learning tools, you can’t go wrong. Plus, BizPlanBuilder 's one-time pricing makes it easy to invest while Business Sorter has a low starting cost. And if you're business is looking to grow, GoSmallBiz and Wise Business Plans will scale with you.

But of course, different companies have different needs. So shop around until you find the software that’s best for you and your business.

Now that you've got a business plan, take a look at our checklist for starting a small business.  It can help you make sure you have everything else you need to get your startup off to a good start!

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• Best Project Management Software and Tools in 2023
• 4 Cost Management Techniques for Small Businesses

Creating a business plan can take anywhere from a couple hours to several weeks. Your timeline will depend on things like the elements you choose to include, whether you use software or hire a writing service, and how much research goes into your plan.

That said, much of the business plan software out there brags that it can help you create a fairly detailed plan in a few hours. So if you’re going the software route, that can help you set your expectations.

If you want to get the most out of your business plan, you should update it on a regular basis―at least annually. That way, you can continually refer to it to inform your company’s strategies and direction.  

At the very least, you should update your business plan before you start looking for a new round of funding (whether that’s with investors or lenders).

Thanks to business plan software, you can easily write your own business plan rather than pay someone to do it for you. And in most cases, software will cost you less than a professional business plan service.

There are some times you might want to go with a service though. If time is tight, you might find that it’s worth the cost of a service. Or if you’ve got big investor meetings on the horizon, you might want the expertise and polish that a professional service can offer.

Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself whether business plan software or a business plan service will work better for your company.

Methodology

We ranked business plan software and tools based on features, pricing and plans, and connections to project management and other services. The value of each plan and service, along with what it offers, was a big consideration in our rankings, and we looked to see if what was offered was useful to small businesses or just extra. The final thing we looked at was the ease of use of the software to see if it's too complex for small businesses.

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Sources 1. Harvard Business Review, “ Research: Writing a Business Plan Makes Your Startup More Likely to Succeed .” Accessed March 13, 2023.

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Beyond agile: Reorganizing IT for faster software delivery

After more than two decades of experimentation among Silicon Valley giants, “agile” has finally gone mainstream. Companies inside and outside the Valley are using some form of this software-development methodology, which emphasizes, among other things, rapid building and frequent delivery of software and system updates, with continual user involvement. Under this approach, companies are seeing increased productivity within their software-development teams, faster release of digital products and services, and improved customer experiences. Our experience suggests, for instance, that companies can reduce the average number of days required to complete code development and move it into live production from 89 days to 15 days, a mere 17 percent of the original time (Exhibit 1).

A lot of companies are now kicking the tires on DevOps, the next wave of innovation in software development and delivery and a critical enabler of agile software development. Under this product-development approach, companies seek to fully integrate their software-development functions with their IT operations so teams can jointly build, test, release, and maintain new digital applications more frequently and more efficiently. 1 1. Satty Bhens, Ling Lau, and Shahar Markovitch, “ Finding the speed to innovate ,” April 2015. Software is designed with discrete business requirements and system integration in mind, rather than in a vacuum, and developers and operations staffers are equally responsible for the delivery and stability of code.

However, few companies, regardless of industry, have been able to reap the full value of DevOps. The implementation of agile has typically affected interactions only among small groups of business stakeholders and discrete application-development teams. By contrast, the move to a DevOps model requires that companies make broader, more systemic changes that could significantly alter interactions among all software-delivery teams, IT-operations staffers, and business stakeholders. This is a more complex undertaking.

For most established players, reorienting IT operations around a two-speed IT architecture—which features stable, transaction-oriented systems on the back end and fast-changing, customer-facing applications on the front end 2 2. Oliver Bossert, Chris Ip, and Jürgen Laartz, “ A two-speed IT architecture for the digital enterprise ,” December 2014. —is a prerequisite for implementing both agile and DevOps approaches. But not every application the company develops or every update in a two-speed environment will require the joint collaboration that is central to a DevOps model. Some of the mechanisms used to support rapid development of e-commerce applications, for instance, may not be as successful in building or maintaining applications for a core transactional system developed in COBOL. In those instances, the traditional split of roles and responsibilities among IT operations, software development, and business stakeholders may actually be more acceptable.

In this article, we will discuss the considerations IT executives face when trying to adopt a DevOps model within a two-speed IT environment (Exhibit 2). They will need to determine how and where to introduce new technologies, such as automation and cloud platforms, depending on which parts of the company they think would benefit most from a DevOps approach. And they will need to explore new production processes and forms of governance so that IT operations and software-development functions across the company can work together effectively, despite the fact that they may be operating at different speeds.

Running at two speeds

Over the past decade or so, companies that were born online have revolutionized how technology infrastructure is built and maintained, and how software applications are developed and deployed. They have been among the first to integrate their software-development functions with their IT operations and focus on continuous delivery of small upgrades, where teams rapidly design, integrate, test, deliver, and monitor software changes.

Netflix, for instance, has created a cloud-based IT architecture that allows its developers to launch hundreds of software changes a day. Its website comprises hundreds of microservices hosted in the cloud, and each service is maintained by a dedicated DevOps team. Developers don’t need to request resources from the IT operations team; instead they can automatically build pieces of code into deployable web images. As those images are updated with new features or services, they can be integrated with Netflix’s existing infrastructure using a custom-built, web-based platform on which infrastructure clusters are created. Testing is carefully done in the production environment with a subset of users. Once the web images are live, a load-balancing technology routes part of the traffic to them from older versions. Automated monitoring ensures that if something goes wrong with the deployment of new images, traffic is routed back to older versions, and the new images are rolled back. Because of this level of automation, Netflix can deploy new code into its production environment within hours, where most companies would need months.

Of course, Internet companies such as Netflix have had the advantage of being able to start from scratch with their IT architectures—with no complex legacy systems to either reconfigure or maintain. And because their main products, web applications, are 100 percent customer facing, these companies have learned how to react quickly to customer feedback and release new features and improvements on the fly.

By contrast, most non-Internet companies seeking to similarly adopt a DevOps model are often saddled with older, transaction-based systems that they must somehow reconcile with agile approaches to software development. What’s more, not every function within the brick-and-mortar organization will require DevOps; this would be the case, for instance, for systems of record that are not time sensitive, such as a general ledger. These companies therefore must not only contend with developing a two-speed IT architecture but also enabling a two-speed IT organization.

Managing a two-speed IT architecture

A two-speed IT architecture allows large-scale companies to accelerate the release of innovative products and applications that could make a substantial difference to customers while maintaining legacy IT systems that are less innovative but still necessary for the stability of the business. This sort of architecture emphasizes tight integration between the software applications being developed and the hardware infrastructure supporting them. Historically the IT operations teams maintaining software and hardware have been kept entirely separate. But with the increasing prevalence of vertical enterprise-resource-planning systems, the advent of network virtualization, and the emergence of software-as-a-service models, the two sides have moved closer to one another. These technology trends have had the effect of removing complexity from hardware stacks and making them more accessible to software developers.

A two-speed environment requires that companies introduce automation tools to support continuous delivery of software—especially in the testing and production phases. Automation can allow for better management of, among other things, the release of software updates, the porting of new code, and the general processing environment. Most important, automation tools and cloud-based technologies can serve as the bridge between legacy IT systems on the back end and consumer-facing applications on the front end, allowing companies to pursue seamless testing, provisioning, deployment, governance, and security of servers and new software releases (Exhibit 3).

A two-speed IT architecture conveys a number of critical advantages, but it takes time, careful consideration, and commitment to establish. Netflix, for instance, developed most of its cloud and automation technologies in-house, but companies have any number of products and packages (some open source) to choose from that can allow them to achieve similar dual-speed performance.

The most critical factor in establishing a two-speed architecture is for IT leaders to adopt a capabilities-based view of the IT architecture, rather than a system- or process-oriented view. This means identifying and clearly defining those software applications that cut across multiple business units. From a capabilities perspective, for instance, IT leaders could see that certain applications developed for the company’s customer-relationship-management (CRM) system may require a DevOps approach while others, such as core banking systems or transaction-processing applications, would not. The CRM system would not simply be considered a system of record, too slow to qualify for a DevOps program. Instead, IT leaders could allocate resources toward “fast” and “slow” applications as required—gaining the critical benefits of the DevOps approach where it is possible to do so.

Managing a two-speed IT organization

While addressing the technology architecture and infrastructure required to enable DevOps, companies should simultaneously consider making changes to various operations, processes, and governance structures in the IT organization and within the business overall.

The DevOps approach challenges the established product-development norms in most IT organizations. Historically, companies have separated their infrastructure (hardware) from their application-development (software) organizations and have kept the “build” staff away from the “run” staff. A DevOps approach requires that companies tear down these organizational silos, thereby marking a significant change in IT management strategy. Additionally, IT leaders adopting DevOps organizational models may need to reconsider how technology partners are integrated into their software-delivery processes—a trend that is forcing some system vendors to consider ways to make their platforms available as a service.

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The biggest task for IT leaders is to identify those parts of the company where the use of DevOps would make most sense—likely focusing on those parts of the business where speed is at a premium, and where there is a significant opportunity for the company to differentiate its customer experience from the competition. (Think of a retailer using DevOps to improve its website checkout experiences, or a bank offering new fund-tracking capabilities at its site.) For those parts of the business where DevOps might make less sense—where reliability and resilience of software is more important than speed to market—IT leaders will need to determine how to maintain the split between software development and IT operations, and which roles and processes to adapt for a culture of continuous delivery.

Redefined roles

By its very nature, integrated product development requires strong collaboration between business and IT—and in some cases new or redefined roles. Business analysts must communicate the requirements for new software features and functionality in terms that employees in all departments can understand—and they must be flexible and willing to change the business requirements slightly when doing so could speed up implementation. Engineers and product developers must work across functions and among different product teams—under a DevOps model, informal collaboration and coordination among these business and IT coworkers actually becomes more important than formal reporting and approval processes. Software testers must collaborate with developers and business analysts—first with business analysts to clarify feature requests, and then with developers after the code has been developed, giving them immediate feedback on software performance. With DevOps, end users are no longer passive recipients of “big bang” software or service releases—companies seek their input early and often as they develop and test new software features.

Cross-functional teams of application-development, infrastructure-management, and operations professionals should be convened to streamline the ownership of stacks across the application-delivery pipeline. In the case of continuous delivery, for instance, a joint team would oversee all processes (and associated tools) relating to this development activity, such as application building, testing, and deployment; performance management and monitoring; and virtualization and configuration management. Previously, some of these components would be owned by different organizations. Also, infrastructure teams should be given a seat at the table, with decision rights equal to those of software-development teams.

Redefined culture and talent

Integrated development and continuous delivery can only happen within a corporate culture that empowers its software developers and refines its IT and R&D reporting structures. In most organizations, product development and IT operations live in separate towers, with people of different mind-sets, skills, and experiences. IT and business executives will need to break down these barriers. For instance, rather than have all developers report to the head of “build” and all operations employees report to the head of “run,” some must be purposely assigned different reporting lines. Further, employees will need training opportunities, and their salary schemes may need to be reconsidered. Traditionally, product developers have focused mainly on programming frameworks; in a DevOps environment they will be held responsible for the quality of their code. They will need to know operating-system basics and must show strong collaboration skills as they work jointly with operations engineers to determine how best to solve application-development or deployment problems. As a result, many companies are already modifying their recruiting practices to hire “full stack” engineers—professionals who understand all aspects of computing, including user interfaces, databases, and networks.

Redefined processes and governance

Companies may want to look across the entire spectrum of software-delivery processes to determine which will need to be redefined or fully automated so that development teams can take advantage of infrastructure as a service, as needed, and so that code can be ported into testing and production environments in a standardized way. There are a number of lessons companies can take from Internet pioneers on the types of process and governance changes to deploy in support of DevOps. For instance, Internet companies enforce “self service” for developers; teams can test, promote, and deploy code in production environments without requiring constant hands-on involvement from infrastructure-operations teams, although both teams share responsibility for code performance. Internet firms also impose rigorous, automated testing of new code at all stages of the application-development process; in some dot-com companies, sophisticated tests are completed automatically every 10 to 15 minutes. Additionally they take advantage of advanced analytics and other tools to preemptively scan code for exceptions and send developers automated reports about the code segments that are most likely to create errors.

The value of implementing DevOps can be significant with respect to both productivity and time to market. But the implementation of DevOps is not simply about the deployment of new IT methodologies. It must be treated as a company-wide transformation—one that incorporates process and governance considerations as well as technology-related ones.

Oliver Bossert is a senior expert in McKinsey’s Frankfurt office, Chris Ip is a director in McKinsey’s Hong Kong office, and Irina Starikova is an associate principal in the Silicon Valley office.

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IT strategic planning process: create value for the business

Digital transformation, big data , artificial intelligence and other fashionable corporate phrases, such as those linked to IT, are no less a sign of the importance of technological processes in business. Even as people begin to speak about them more than is practical.

Not long ago, large C level executives from areas not directly attached to IT had little knowledge of these processes. They were, for the most part, users.

Today, some knowledge of information technology, its fundamentals, processes, and good practices, is part of the repertoire necessary for any senior level manager. It enables them to perform their tasks, in any area of the company that they commit to.

Therefore, more than ever, the strategic planning of IT processes has become critical to how well an enterprise performs.

More than just providing support, advice or assistance to other areas, the IT strategic planning process today must be seen in a much deeper way.

In addition to providing hardware and software to support other areas, technological processes increasingly become the core of the company, its raison d’être, its market disruptive innovations that make a company create and conquer new markets.

See more: Know all about the strategic planning process model

The New Role of the IT strategic planning process

Waze is an outstanding example to explain how the IT strategic planning process has taken a much more central place in business.

This collaborative application allows vehicle drivers to find the best routes (using the location and speed of users to determine less congested routes). It is the technology involved in this system that adds value to the product.

It’s different from using the IT strategic planning process to make a production line more efficient, pay employees, serve customers better, make calculations, gather information for decision making, or run a business.

The IT strategic planning process itself generates value to the end customer and, consequently, to the company. In addition to decreeing the end of the automotive GPS industry, WAZE is much more efficient. It not only indicates the correct and closest route but updates real-time information on traffic conditions by changing the route with instant messaging.

Therefore, it’s not necessary to work in technology for the IT strategic planning process to be central to a business, helping to create and conquer new markets.

Schools, hospitals, hotels, the manufacturing industry in general, and virtually all large-scale businesses, no longer see IT processes as ancillary to strategic processes in value generation.

But regardless of this renewed importance of the IT strategic planning process, its planning methodology is a consolidated procedure. We will summarize this next.

Also see: Market Acknowledged Organizational Change Management Models

The 6 stages of the IT strategic planning process

Several methodologies can help your company guide you when it comes to the IT strategic planning process.

In this post, we will use a basic template, containing the main steps of this process

1- Overview of the planning process

At this stage, the IT strategic planning process leaders must define a long-term vision and create a mission statement.

This shows where you want to go and how it relates to the strategic objectives of the organization.

2- Long-term vision of the company

An analysis of the technological and human resources that the company already has. As well as, the market trends and the future technological environment where the organization intends to achieve its planning objectives. It’s necessary to define the strategic guidelines and tangible objectives that one wants to achieve.

3- Definition of GAPs in the strategic IT process

Study the current state of all of the company’s systems, processes and technology assets. Compare them with the long-term business prospects defined in the previous steps. Identify gaps and recommend the necessary actions.

4- Schedules and budget

It’s time to build an effective plan, including the development of priorities, a “ roadmap “, budgets and the investment plan that should be contributed.

5- Implementation of the IT strategic planning process

Based on what the organization defined, it can make many decisions to achieve agreed upon objectives. This includes training, vendor and software selection, system integration, hardware procurement, and more.

6- Benchmarking

At the end of the IT strategic planning implementation process, it’s necessary to evaluate the results and compare them with the organizational objectives defined in the previous phases. This will help determine if the planning and its implementation achieved the expected success.

Check it: I TIL Change Management Process Flow

The ultimate goal of any strategic process planning is to reach the final process model more efficiently and effectively. For this, read more about process automation software .

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IT Project Management: Managing IT Projects

This guide is brought to you by projectmanager, the project management software trusted by 35,000+ users..

What Is IT Project Management?

What is it project management software, benefits of it project management software, must-have features for it project management software, how to manage an it project, unique challenges of it project management, it project management methodologies, it project management tools, roles in it project management, it project manager job description, is it project management certification necessary, what is an it project.

An information technology (IT) project is a type of project that deals with IT infrastructure, information systems or computers. Examples of an IT project include web development, software development, mobile app development, network configuration, software implementation, hardware installation, database management, and IT emergency recovery.

IT project management (ITPM) is the planning, scheduling, execution, monitoring and reporting of IT projects. While many industries focus exclusively on IT projects, IT is unique in that most, if not all, industries have some level of an IT component.

Since they are often very wide in scope, IT project managers must deal with risk, interdependent integrations, software updates, scope creep and so on. Therefore, IT projects require more than the typical project management tools and skills to complete.

Specialized IT project management software complete with online Gantt charts, kanban boards, dashboards and reports provide the essential functions necessary for successful IT projects.

ProjectManager has everything you need to enhance IT planning, scheduling and rollouts. Learn more.

What Are the Six Phases of an IT Project?

The six phases of an IT project are based on the six phases of project management , which are used in conjunction with the IT phases to manage the project. They are as follows:

During the first phase of an IT project, one must ask “why is this project needed?”—in other words, the objective of the project must be identified. Then, a project proposal , including a business plan, that meets the needs of the project must be written. In addition, a feasibility study might be conducted to ensure the proposal is airtight.

After the project proposal has been approved, the project moves into the definition phase. This is where the objectives of the project are finalized and the requirements for a successful project are identified. The project scope can also be outlined, and a project plan may be created during this phase. Budgets are also set, and resources are determined.

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IT project plan template

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The design phase of an IT project is when the project team sets out to find the best solution for achieving their goal. This includes creating multiple designs and prototypes. Once a suitable design has been chosen, specifications for the development team are created and shared.

Development

The development phase is when the development team is assigned tasks and project management tools are selected. Additionally, technicalities are outlined, raw materials are requested and so on. The main goal of this phase is to make the entire plan as crystal clear as possible to avoid issues in the implementation phase.

Implementation

The implementation phase is where the final deliverable of the IT project is developed; unsurprisingly, this is often the longest phase of the project. The project team sets out to complete their tasks, while the manager monitors and controls the work , resources, cost, quality and risk.

Finally, once the implementation phase is complete, the final project is delivered to the customer/client/stakeholder. The follow up phase is all the work that comes after the project is delivered, and includes setting up support teams, training the end-users, creating a postmortem and ultimately ending the project.

Most IT projects and their phases are managed with a traditional, structured waterfall methodology. An agile framework, though, can minimize risk when adding functionality. DevOps deployment can be a good fit within an organizational culture. Rapid application development (RAD) is a low-investment, high-quality process.

What Does an IT Project Manager Do?

An IT project manager is responsible for overseeing an organization’s IT department and managing teams to execute IT projects on time and within budget. Some of the duties of an IT project manager include:

• Setting project goals and creating plans to meet them
• Maintaining the project schedule and budget, creating status reports
• Managing resources, including the team, equipment, etc.
• Assigning tasks to team members
• Developing strategy to deliver projects on time and within budget
• Using IT project management tools to track progress and performance
• Assessing project risks
• Developing IT risk management strategies
• Leading regular meetings with team and stakeholders

IT project managers are expected to have advanced knowledge of computers, operating systems, network and service desk administration. They must also be good communicators and be able to clearly explain complex technical issues. Other required skills include experience with scheduling, budgeting and resource planning.

While the skill sets of project managers across different industries are generally the same, an IT project manager is unique in that they’re focused solely on the IT needs of an organization. But like all project managers, the way an IT project manager handles their varied duties and responsibilities is with the help of robust IT project management software.

IT project management software is used by managers to organize and control the processes of their IT projects. Like any software tool, it’s main purpose is to increase efficiency.

IT project management software boosts efficiency by giving users the features they need to monitor and track progress and performance. This keeps their IT projects on track to meet tight schedules and budgets.

Some key features common among IT project management tools include task and time tracking, real-time data, unlimited file storage, multiple project views to support hybrid methodologies, planning, scheduling and reporting. Microsoft Project is one of the most commonly used project management software, but it has major drawbacks that make ProjectManager a better choice for IT projects.

Regardless of what IT project management software you choose, you want one that is going to make your job easier. It should help you organize tasks and schedule their execution over a set schedule budget. You also want a tool that connects your team and stakeholders to keep them all on the same page.

There are many benefits to using IT project management software:

• Plan Waterfall Projects with Gantt charts
• Live Status with Real-Time Dashboards
• Manage Program or Portfolio of IT Projects
• Get Data Rich Reports With One Click
• Guide teams through digital transformation projects
• Track Time Spent on Tasks and Monitor Progress
• Customize Workflow on Kanban Boards

The IT project management software that’s best for you will ideally have at least these six features.

Keep Tasks Organized on a Timeline

IT managers and teams need a visual tool to organize their tasks over a project timeline. Gantt charts help them prioritize, set the duration and even link dependent tasks that could block work later on during the execution of a project.

Make Better Data-Driven Decisions

Managing means constantly making choices. The more data you have, the better those decisions. Reports that pull info on progress, costs, variance, workload and much more can help you gather insightful information. Reports should be easy to generate, filter and share.

Get Live Status Reports

IT systems require that you keep a close eye on metrics, catch irregularities quickly and resolve them even quicker. A dashboard that is always collecting data and displaying it in easy-to-read graphs and charts will give you a high-level view of your IT’s health.

Assign the Right Amount of Tasks

Knowing what your IT teams are doing is essential to keeping them productive. If they have too many tasks, their work suffers. Using a workload management feature will allow you to see who is working on what, and balance that workload to have everyone equally allocated.

Track Your Team’s Logged Hours

Timesheets are more than a payroll tool—they’re another window into your team’s productivity. They allow you to monitor how many hours they’re spending on tasks, and you can reallocate resources as necessary to keep the work moving ahead as planned.

Know Immediately What’s Happening

IT systems are critical business processes. If they go down, money is lost. To avoid any slowdown (or worse), managers need a feature in their IT project management tool that alerts them in emergencies. It’s also helpful to get notified when anything is updated.

While there are many ways to manage an IT project, some aspects are universal. The steps might be slightly different, but the general direction is the same.

We’ll walk you through these steps one-by-one, while illustrating how a project management software can help you along the way.

1. Collect Requirements

Before a project can begin, paperwork is required. You need to define scope, create a budget and determine the stakeholder requirements. All these documents can be attached to the project on our software, which has unlimited file storage.

2. Select Team

Now that you’ve collected the project’s requirements, you can assemble a team with the skills and experience that fit the task at hand. Be sure to onboard them into your project management software, so communication happens in one place.

3. Use a Gantt Chart

Use a Gantt to add tasks to a timeline , link dependencies, set milestones and view the critical path. We offer a fully-featured online Gantt chart for project managers who work in a waterfall environment. The whole team doesn’t have to use this traditional planning tool though, as project data is shared across multiple project views: task lists, calendars and kanban boards.

4. Use a Kanban Board

Use a kanban board to control workflow during project execution. With ProjectManager, you can create workflows, execute sprints and work in an agile framework without disturbing the Gantt plan.

5. Monitor Progress

As the project moves forward, it’s important that the actual progress matches what was planned. Our software has a real-time dashboard that collects data as it’s updated. We automatically crunch the numbers and display them in charts that show costs, tasks, health and more. Project tracking has never been easier.

6. Manage Workload

IT projects require smart workload management. Are team members overtasked or have they too few assignments? To avoid slowing progress, our workload page shows you who’s on holiday and who has too much work: you can even reassign tasks right from the page.

7. Make Changes

Projects aren’t static. You have to pivot fast when there are change requests from stakeholders. Our software gives your plans and your team flexibility. For example, if a date changes, simply drag and drop the task to the new deadline on the Gantt chart. This change is then reflected throughout the software.

8. Get Reports

To track progress and keep stakeholders updated, our software has an in-depth reporting feature . There are many reports, that can be generated to help with IT project management. Make an in-depth status report with just a few clicks to get the information you need.

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IT project management deals with a variety of issues. It ends up interfacing with many other aspects of an organization, such as business administration, human resources, finance and other departments within the organization and entities that are outside of the business. This presents a number of pressing problems with high stakes, for if the technology goes down, then an entire business can become paralyzed.

Changing Technology

There’s the challenge that IT is a volatile industry, with a rate of change that can be dizzying. Technology is notorious for becoming obsolete once it rolls off the assembly line, so IT project management must be prepared for this inevitable change.

Communication

Another hurdle that IT project management has to clear is communication between teams. This is a problem with all projects, frankly, but with IT there are often distributed teams who work remotely, often in different time zones, which only aggravates the situation. Having clear and effective communication channels is key for success on any IT project.

Transparency

Transparency is important, too, as the focus in IT is sharp. Having transparency across the project, with clear deadlines, helps teams better incorporate new technology or respond to change quickly and effectively.

Lack of Agreement on Methodology

But one of the biggest issues is that many organizations aren’t applying IT project management to their projects, which is like sailing a ship without a rudder. Without a process or methodology, whatever that might be, projects go off-track and over budget. Having an IT project manager who defines process, roles and tools is the first step to the success of an IT project.

There seem to be as many project management methodologies as there are projects. They break down into two larger camps, though: traditional and nontraditional methods. Let’s start with the traditional waterfall method, which breaks down the tasks in a project into a line of sequential project phases, and each of these phases depends on the delivery of the one before it.

Waterfall Methodology

Waterfall is the go-to methodology for most IT projects. While it is a project management method found in large projects outside of IT, it also lends itself to IT projects and has been proven a successful approach for formal and linear projects.

Waterfall has been around since it was codified in a paper published in 1970 by Dr. Winston W. Royce. The waterfall model has six stages:

• Requirements: First, the requirements are identified, analyzed and written up in a requirements document, defining what is being done and how it is to be done. This will be reviewed by stakeholders.
• Design: The next step is to document what was decided in the first stage in a design document, which notes everything needed to complete the project.
• Implementation:  The IT project manager and team execute the design document, sticking to specifications, procedures and timelines.
• Testing:  This is when deliverables from the project are measured against the standards set in the design document and stakeholders, like a quality check. If not met, then the process starts again. Our test case template can help with this process.
• Installation: If the tests are passed, then the project is ready for release to the end-user. The product should be fully operational at this point.
• Maintenance:  Most IT projects don’t end with delivery: they often require support after installation, whether updates or upgrades, though often this is tasked to a separate team.

Agile Methodology

Software development has introduced an agile framework to projects, a more iterative approach that works in short sprints and open to pivoting throughout the project, rather than being rigidly aligned with the plan. Some IT teams have incorporated agile or some of its implementations into their own projects.

Hybrid Methodology

More popular than agile with IT teams is hybrid methodology , which combines waterfall and agile, creating a more flexible and yet structured approach that can lend itself to IT projects. This “best of both worlds” approach it can be the right path forward depending on the parameters of the project.

ProjectManager is the ideal IT project management software for waterfall or hybrid methodologies. It features online Gantt charts for waterfall enthusiasts and kanban boards for agile lovers. Plus, the real-time dashboard keeps the IT project manager updated on progress through metrics that can be filtered to show the data you want and then shared.

Other Methodologies

Less used in IT projects, but worth mentioning, is the critical path method and critical chain project management. The critical path method categorizes the tasks that must be completed to fulfill the project objective. This is done with a work breakdown structure (WBS) , which is then mapped across a project duration or Gantt chart, with task dependencies linked to avoid blocking teams. This helps to know which tasks need to be done when.

The critical chain project management works backwards, recognizing deliverables and using past experience to map the tasks needed to complete the project. This is a very efficient way to use resources, while staying focused on the end-goal. However, delays can be common, and it’s not suited to work on a portfolio of projects.

The right IT project management tools will overcome the challenges of IT projects and give project managers better control and teams the features they need to collaborate and be more productive. Fortunately, ProjectManager is a project management software designed with IT project management in mind.

Gantt Charts for Waterfall Plans

The feature that fits with IT project management like a hand in a glove is ProjectManager’s online Gantt charts. Most of the methodologies above work on the timeline of a Gantt chart, and ours will allows you to link tasks that are dependent and even assign.

Teams love our online Gantt chart, especially IT teams that tend to work collaboratively and with autonomy. That’s because they can comment at the task level. Tasks can also have documents attached or images to add supporting materials and even sign-off once they’re completed.

Dashboards for Live Reporting

Because ProjectManager is a cloud-based project management software, status updates are instantly reflected throughout the program. That means your real-time dashboard is giving you project details as they happen.

The various metrics measuring cost, workload, time and more, can be filtered to show just the amount of data you need. Then these easy-to-read colorful graphs and charts can be shared to teams and stakeholders or printed out for presentations.

Roles and responsibilities in IT project management mostly mirror those projects in other disciplines. There are stakeholders, who are those who have an interest in the project; teams, who are those with skills to execute the project plan ; and the IT project manager, who is the person that is responsible for the planning, procurement and execution of the project.

Types of IT Teams

Where roles differ from more traditional projects is in the teams themselves. While more project management is executed by teams, whether remote or on site, they are largely part of the overall organization that is implementing the project. However, with IT project management there are three types of teams.

• First, there is the traditional project management team that is tasked with an IT project. These teams are not exclusive to IT and are led and staffed with a formal project management methodology.
• Second, there are professional services teams , who deliver technology to external customers. This is usually done with the implementation of software or installation of hardware. They are often led by a project manager, but can be headed by a services vice-president or director. However, they also use formal types of project management.
• Thirdly, there are internal IT teams . These are the teams that manage the delivery and maintenance of the technology in an organization. They roll out new systems, set up computers, monitors, phones and other devices for employees and manage the systems. They can be led by a project manager, though that person is usually defined within the company as a director or vice-president of IT.

The IT Project Manager

The IT project manager, due to the breadth of IT project management, has a wider range of responsibilities than most other project managers. They are not only dealing with leadership, resource allocation, scheduling and planning, monitoring and reporting, but must know about technology beyond the tools that they use to manage projects.

IT project managers are responsible for understanding firmware and being able to implement software integrations. They often build websites and databases, and manage these technologies as well. This includes building networks and maintaining security for data risks .

However, the basic structure of the IT project manager’s job remains being a clear communicator, setting realistic goals and applying the right methodology to achieve them. They must motivate and inform both teams and stakeholders, manage change and set the project schedule. The triple constraint of any project is still present. Therefore, the IT project manager, like any project manager, is concerned with setting deadlines and keeping to a budget. This is all managed through methodology.

An IT project manager can make a salary that ranges from $55,000 to $125,000, depending on industry and region. The more senior the position, however, the more compensated the person will be.

Responsibilities of an IT project manager are similar to any project manager, in that they lead the planning, execution and monitoring and reporting of the project. They are responsible for making sure resources are managed and the project comes in successfully, meaning on time, within budget and of the expected quality. They also report to upper management, stakeholders, clients, etc., while managing the IT staff.

The IT project manager is also responsible for staying updated on the latest technology and changes to the organization’s technology, through research and studying similar organizations and their IT structure. They make sure that the technology complements the organization’s overall goals, strategies and practices.

They also work to preserve the IT assets by implementing disaster recovery and back-up procedures, including any IT security and control structures. The IT project manager is responsible for the quality of all IT projects.

Skills and Qualifications

Some of the skills and qualifications of an IT project manager include:

• Technical management
• An understanding of technology
• An ability to stay on top of the ever-changing field
• Ability to analyze data
• Communications
• Problem-solving
• Data center management
• Strategic planning
• Quality management

One way to stay up-to-date on all the skills and qualifications required of an IT project manager is certification. Certification is done by an outside agency that notes a standard of excellence, understanding of the discipline and experience.

Most IT project managers have at least a bachelor’s degree in business management or a more specific area, such as marketing, engineering or computer science. To further differentiate yourself, there are certifications, but they’re mostly general project manager certifications.

Types of Certifications

The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers a couple of industry-recognized project manager certifications, such as the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and the Project Management Professional (PMP). PMI also offers a PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA), Program Management Professional (PgMP) and Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP).

More technical certifications are The Open Group’s TOGAF 9 and OPEN CA certifications, as well as the IASA’s Certified IT Architech – Professional (CITA-P). These enterprise architect certifications merge a knowledge of technology with business goals.

IT governance certifications is offered by ITIL and ISACA, which have Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC).

IT Project Management Resources

• Emerging Trends in IT
• Project Management Trends (2022)
• The 10 Project management Knowledge Areas
• IT Governance: Definitions, Frameworks and Planning
• 7 Steps for Effective Problem Management in IT
• IT Audit: Definition & Quick Guide
• Technical Project Manager
• IT Portfolio Management Software
• 15 Free IT Project Management Templates for Excel, Word & More
• IT Project Plan Template
• IT Risk Assessment Template
• How to Become an IT Project Manager

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14 Crucial Components of Business IT Strategic Planning

As they grow, many companies find it very beneficial to have their own IT department. IT planning becomes just as important as creating a financial plan or budget forecasting. Adequate IT planning takes time, but this process allows all department resources to be productively utilized. With a strong IT strategy, the company will more effectively achieve its business goals, prevent a number of internal problems, and even reduce the cost of maintaining hardware and other components. You definitely need to take care of IT planning if you want to use company funds more efficiently, increase profits, optimize resources, and improve overall productivity.

A man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at his door. – Confucius

What Is an IT Strategic Business Plan

An IT strategic plan is a dynamic document that describes complex procedures and processes for managing a business based on existing technologies. By using such a plan, top management can make a number of decisions regarding the IT direction of the company, including setting goals and priorities. In general, the IT business planning process helps in creating an overall company strategy. It should include those IT areas in which you can contribute and gain a competitive advantage.

Waze is an excellent example of a sound IT strategy and planning . This application was created in 2006 by an Israeli developer Ehud Shabtai and reflected the map of Israel for use in GPS technology. It would seem that there were a lot of similar applications. Still, the company focused on its IT strategy, and already in 2011 released an update that showed the congestion of routes, traffic incidents on the map, rallies, and laid the most effective course for users, taking into account the traffic situation. Waze quickly gained popularity due to its convenient function, and in 2013 it was purchased by Google for $1.1 billion .  

In 2020-2021 , IT planning is more critical than ever. Given the rapid development of information technology and its impact on business, each organization must clearly understand its strategic goal and how the technical area is moving.

What a Strategic IT Plan is Not

It is imperative to understand what a strategic plan is and not confuse it with a tactical one. Otherwise, it will fail. An Information Technology strategic plan is the framework from which executives decide to meet the overall business strategy. It is a key point for business development . A tactical plan , which guides what needs to be done to achieve a goal, is still not a strategic plan.

Another remarkable nuance is that a strategic plan is not a static document. We said earlier that it is dynamic, which means that it must be revised and updated per the company’s needs. You cannot just create it once and then follow it all the time. Ideally, you should revise and modify a 5-year IT strategy plan annually.

What Components an IT Plan Should Cover

It is a mistake to think that IT plans only cover software and hardware resources. In fact, it is much wider. A strong document should contain the following aspects:

Alignment with business strategy and objectives. The IT strategy must support the business strategy, and this is what the IT plan reflects. It is worth highlighting those business strategies that require significant investments in IT infrastructure or related aspects.

Long-term initiatives. Long-term perspectives take from 3 to 5 years to reach and should also be reflected in the plan. Long-term prospects must also be consistent with the goals and direction of the company. For example, if we are talking about creating a custom application, then the company can build development from scratch or expand the current one. Another option when resources are limited is to hire a third-party company for custom software development .

Best practices. It is one of the factors influencing the success of a company in compliance with advanced technologies. The IT plan should clearly define the company’s new practices and a program for its implementation. It takes time, namely training of personnel, and requires the purchase of appropriate software or equipment, and so on. Nevertheless, this is an important point that affects the competitiveness of a business.

IT governance. This section identifies IT management issues and describes how to improve them. Good governance is directly related to how a company creates, evaluates, implements, and manages new initiatives and best practices.

IT service catalog. The company must implement a service catalog that will support the business and help it grow. These can be additional services that are not related to the central IT product but aimed at improving the organization's performance; for example, a company will decide to move towards SaaS development services . Besides, this section should also cover any problems that exist in the current IT service catalog and ways to fix them.

Ways of communication. Any business needs to have established ways of communicating with clients to demonstrate the transparency of its services. Good communication increases the level of trust in the organization. Thus, another part of the IT plan is how to inform customers about the services provided and their implementation.

IT principles, metrics, and financials. In order to see the performance, a business evaluates its indicators. This section should answer questions such as: What are the guidelines for IT? What are the key metrics that represent business performance? How does a company measure its success? Which budget model to use? By and large, this part should be interconnected with the overall financial model of the company .

Holistic design. The next component contains the design principles that must be followed in every IT project for successful delivery and an overall testing strategy.

Human capital management. Any human resource is an asset that needs to be well-managed to achieve maximum productivity. The plan should describe the strategy for managing human resources with the help of technologies, equipment, or related applications.

Enterprise risk management . Any business can face situations that negatively affect development and profit. Thus, the workable plan should contain a forecast of adverse events and specific steps to prevent them or reduce their impact to a minimum and measures to secure the company.

Cost management. The next component is the description of cost management. In general, in any company, this is an extensive section. An IT plan describes how a company can manage costs and how they depend on hardware or software.

Technology management. The next equally important part describes how the company maintains, updates, and manages technology, databases, networks, and IT security services and creates a contingency plan, manages appropriate documents, etc.

Hardware and software management. This section describes how the company will maintain and update software and hardware, specifications, licenses, configurations, etc. Quite often, this part of the plan overlaps with the previous section.

Vendor management. In the next part, you need to identify and manage the activities of third-party providers that affect the IT department. This includes complying with various kinds of agreements, as well as managing day-to-day activities.

Need a professional IT team to benefit your business? Hire KeyUA experts with 12+ years of experience developing sophisticated products.

Why Do You Need the IT Plan

Every organization that is interested in their business growth and gaining a competitive advantage should take care of creating an IT plan. It can significantly increase productivity and achieve important business goals. Companies that do not have an IT plan or do not update their plan regularly are exposed to high risks and poor business processes. Here are some other reasons for developing an IT strategic plan:

You can avoid such unpleasant situations as data theft, negative consequences of hacker attacks, viruses. Outdated technology is what will make your company vulnerable and what could sink it. An IT plan will help you develop accurate and actionable methods to secure your business from outside interference.

Increase in productivity based on reducing the time required to respond to problems associated with internal software or hardware, IT products developed by the company, etc.

Efficient use of resources. An IT plan will help you qualitatively manage the business’s internal components, including human resources and equipment, taking into account the company’s needs. In turn, this will lead to the minimization of the costs and risks associated with incompetent management. Basically, if you want your staff and your hardware to be the best, you need an IT plan.

Receiving additional investments. Lenders, investors, and other financial institutions will be more likely to provide you with additional financing if you have a clear and well thought out strategic IT plan that matches the organization’s real-time needs. From an investment point of view, a good IT plan increases the opportunities for making a profit.

You can easily find alternative and more cost-effective hardware options on the market. Good planning helps you avoid cost overruns and find the best solution.

Always be prepared for unforeseen circumstances. Yes, a strategic plan allows you to cope with negative changes for which the company was not ready and to minimize their consequences.

A strategic plan is an opportunity to look into the future and determine the most effective ways of business development. Let's take a look at the competition between Netflix and Blockbuster video. Blockbuster had over 9,000 stores in various countries at its peak, including over 4,000 in the United States. Netflix began its activity as the world's first online DVD rental shop. But in 2007, the company looked ahead and predicted that video streaming would be the right direction for its business. And what is now? More than 139 million users worldwide purchase Netflix subscriptions, and the company generates $6.148B in revenue per quarter . In 2013, Blockbuster closed its last store. This is a prime example of how important it is to have a strategic plan focused on future trends .

The 6 Stages of the IT Strategic Planning Process

Now we know that an IT plan is an important document for business development, supporting the company’s overall expansion strategy. Now let's look at the main steps on how to develop an IT strategy plan.

1. Planning process overview

This stage shows where the company as a whole should move. Senior management defines the mission and long-term prospects of the IT direction. In the beginning, these statements should show how the plan relates to the overall business strategy.

2. Long-term vision of the company

At this stage, the assets and resources of the company are defined. This is where human capital and technical capabilities are handled. It is equally important to make a market forecast and identify future technology trends and goals that the company will achieve.

3. Identifying current problems

You should study the current state of all systems and processes in the IT direction, find bottlenecks, and understand how this affects the business. For all identified problems, an effective solution must be found.

4. Schedules and budget

This stage includes building a roadmap, budgeting, prioritization, as well as ways to obtain investment.

5. Process of strategic IT planning

Based on the data analysis and the problems identified, the company must make a number of important decisions. This includes staff training, selection of the best suppliers, equipment procurement, IT infrastructure setup, and so on.

6. Benchmarking

The company must track its progress and how it managed or failed to achieve its goals. At the last stage of the planning process, it is worth comparing the company's results with the goals from previous plans and understanding whether they were achieved. If the organization has not reached the intended purposes in the previous period, it is worth assessing if they are still relevant and developing steps to realize them.

Example from the Government of Canada Information Technology Strategic Plan 2016-2020

A Couple of Basic Nuances to Focus On

Several aspects do not seem so significant, but they should definitely be focused on during the preparation of the IT Plan. As in most areas of business, IT is a team effort, and often even the smallest companies have several dedicated professionals. Ideally, the IT department comprises various experts in software development, infrastructure customization, data protection, and so on. But not all companies can afford such a staff, so they make the mistake of dumping all responsibility on one IT specialist. Even if the company’s department is small, you need to ensure that its roles are correctly assigned, and the internal structure is efficient. At first glance, it might seem like a confusing waste of time. But the wrong structure and distribution of responsibility will lead to the most failure of the entire department. Take care of it even if you hire remote specialists.

Process management is a significant part of business development. Good governance will lead to success, while the wrong actions will lead to the bankruptcy of the organization. The same applies to IT process management. While strategic planning should take place annually, it must also cover the oversight and adjustment of internal IT processes every quarter or six months depending on the company’s size.

Final Words

If you don't have an IT plan yet, you should take care of its creation to help your company grow and reduce costs. We hope you find these tips for IT business planning useful and can apply them in practice. But not all companies consider it reasonable to build their own IT department, instead choosing to hire a professional outsourcing team that can realize the set goals. If you belong to this type of business owner, we have lucrative offers to create web or mobile products of any complexity.

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The Role of the Business vs. IT in Supporting Cloud Applications

For companies considering the move to a Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, one of the key drivers is likely the perceived opportunity for reduced IT overhead costs and maintenance responsibilities. While hosting and general monitoring activities are delegated to the SaaS provider, there will be both new and continued responsibilities for IT that will require planning and resources to support the cloud environment. Additionally, moving to the cloud does not diminish the role of the business in supporting the application; in most cases this transition will require increased time and ownership from business subject matter experts (SMEs), not only during the implementation but in perpetuity.

Therefore, it is important to proactively define the distinction between business and IT production support responsibilities prior to going live.

Business vs. IT Ownership

The key to establishing a successful production support model is formally defining responsibilities between the business and IT. The earlier this distributed support model is architected, the better prepared organizations will be to support and maximize usage of their new application. As cloud applications have become more commonplace, certain support practices have evolved and become generally accepted over time, including:

• Often reside with a “super user” from the original implementation team, or multiple module centric super users (i.e., Finance, HR, Payroll)
• Certain business responsibilities, periodic regression testing for example, can be supported by IT, assuming IT personnel effectively comprehend both application and business processes
• Often reside with an internally designated application team, and/or outsourced to a third-party managed support function
• For companies that do not have in-house IT capabilities or capacity, they may consider a third-party support plan that includes a pool of hours for ad-hoc/anytime activities, such as periodic enhancements or reporting and analytics needs

The table below outlines common support activities that we see with cloud applications and the breakdown of organizational responsibility.

* Could apply to core functions, integrations, or security roles   ** For a Segregation of Duties review, IT may be responsible for producing certain access reports, with a business and/or audit individual reviewing/approving exceptions

Business and IT cloud application responsibilities do not taper off after go-live. Instead, they shift to a support-centric focus where each wears unique hats that vary significantly from on-prem or locally hosted applications. Make the most of cloud investments by defining and assigning organizational support responsibilities early on.

Additional Resources:

5 Ways to Prepare for the Next Oracle Cloud Quarterly Release

Plan Ahead: 5 Best Practices for the Switch to Oracle Cloud

To learn more about Protiviti’s cloud capabilities, contact us .

Kimberly Starnes

Senior Manager Technology Consulting - Enterprise Application Solutions

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Business Planning and Support by IT-Systems

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• Klaus Freyburger 4  

Part of the book series: Advanced Information and Knowledge Processing ((AI&KP))

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Business planning is one of the basic tasks of corporate management. Although a detailed presentation of all different business aspects is beyond the scope of this chapter some important characteristics of business planning will be presented. The main focus will be on support by IT-systems, starting by identifying different areas like modeling and manual planning. Then different system categories used for planning purposes will be compared. Important examples are spreadsheets and OLAP based systems. Last but not least some fundamental concepts within planning systems will be discussed, like handling of hierarchies within dimensions and modeled calculations. For this purpose, some implementations will be outlined using software of SAP, Microsoft and the open source solution Palo.

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As a recent important trend the beyond budgeting initiative can be mentioned, cf. [ 1 ].

Hope, J., Fraser, R.: Beyond Budgeting. Harvard Business Review Press, Boston (2003)

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Freyburger, K., Lehmann, P., Seufert, A., Zirn, W., Grasse, S., Suhl, C.: Unternehmensplanung mit SAP BW (2005). Steinbeis edition, Stuttgart

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Oehler, C.: Beyond Budgeting, was steckt dahinter und was kann Software dazu beitragen? Kostenrechnungspraxis 46 (3), 151–160 (2002)

Freyburger, K., et al.: BI1 & BI2: SAP NetWeaver business Warehouse and SAP business explorer (2008). https://cw.sdn.sap.com/cw/docs/DOC-7223 . Accessed 06 July 2012

Fischer, R.: Business Planning with SAP, SEM. Galileo Press, Fort Lee (2004)

Oehler, C.: Unterstützung von Planung, Forecasting und Budgetierung durch IT-Systeme. In: Chamoni, P., Gluchowski, P. (eds.) Analytische Informationssysteme, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin (2006)

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Freyburger, K.: Anwendungsszenarien. In: Haneke, U., et al. (eds.) Open Source Business Intelligence (OSBI): Möglichkeiten, Chancen und Risiken quelloffener BI-Lösungen. Carl Hanser Verlag, München (2010)

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Freyburger, K. (2013). Business Planning and Support by IT-Systems. In: Rausch, P., Sheta, A., Ayesh, A. (eds) Business Intelligence and Performance Management. Advanced Information and Knowledge Processing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4866-1_8

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7 Best Business Planning Apps for Entrepreneurs in 2023 (With AI Features)

In the age of startups and online businesses, planning is paramount. A well-structured business plan not only helps in securing investors but also serves as a roadmap for your enterprise. With the plethora of digital tools available today, there's no need for pen and paper or tedious Excel sheets. Here's our roundup of the seven best business planning apps to streamline your entrepreneurial journey:

An AI-powered hub for modern age businesses

Bizway stands out with its holistic approach to business planning. A web app that's user-friendly and intuitive, it's designed keeping digital and internet businesses in mind.

• Page Creation : Users can seamlessly organize their thoughts with preset pages like Market, Product, Channel, Revenue stream, Customer Persona, and Cost.
• Enhanced Productivity : Flesh out ideas with options like page properties, 'Assist' for guidance, 'Prompts' for inspiration, and 'Tasks' to remind yourself of upcoming actions.
• Digital Resources : The option to add Notes, create Pins for relevant URLs, and an in-built 'Pitch' feature to share your business plan effortlessly makes Bizway a game-changer in the business planning domain.

2. IdeaBuddy

Turn Your Idea into Reality

Ideal for budding entrepreneurs, IdeaBuddy is a comprehensive tool that takes you from an idea to a structured business plan.

• Dream, Plan, and Validate stages help in refining and structuring business concepts.
• Financial forecasting for better budgeting and allocation.
• Guidance from industry experts available within the app.

3. LivePlan

A Trusted Companion for Startups

LivePlan has long been a favorite amongst entrepreneurs, and for good reason. It offers simplicity and in-depth planning in one package.

• Customizable templates suitable for various business types.
• Visual projections and financial insights for better decision-making.
• Collaboration tools for teams to work collectively on a plan.

4. Upmetrics

Your Blueprint for Business Success

Upmetrics is all about creating a blueprint that aligns with your business goals.

• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
• Financial forecasting and analytics.
• Templates for various industries and business models.

Building Businesses, One Step at a Time

Bizplan breaks down the planning process into digestible pieces, ensuring no detail is overlooked.

• Step-by-step builder for detailed planning.
• Financial tools for budgeting and forecasting.
• Collaboration options for team input.

More Than Just Planning

While primarily a task management tool, nTask is versatile enough to aid in business planning with its wide array of features.

• Task lists, timelines, and Gantt charts for project planning.
• Meeting schedules, timesheets, and team collaboration tools.
• Risk management and issue tracking for smoother operations.

The All-in-One Workspace

Notion goes beyond just business planning. It's a workspace tool that can be used for notes, tasks, and even creating a knowledge base.

• Hybrid tool combining notes, databases, and tasks.
• Customizable templates for diverse needs.
• Collaboration and sharing options for teams and clients.

How to use AI in your Business Plan

In the realm of business planning, AI tools, like ChatGPT, have become invaluable for entrepreneurs and seasoned business professionals alike. Here's how to harness the power of AI for your business plan and what to watch out for:

1. Enhancing Knowledge Base:

‍ ChatGPT and similar tools are equipped with vast knowledge databases. They cover business theories, strategies, market research, and statistics about market sizing. So, if you're stuck or unsure about any concept, asking AI can save hours spent trawling through the internet or books.

• Instant access to a massive information database.
• Up-to-date with the latest validated knowledge (as of the last training cut-off).
• Limited to the last training data, which means ultra-recent trends might not be reflected.
• Might not have hyper-specific or niche industry information.

2. Strategy Formulation and Testing:

‍ With AI, you can play out different scenarios or strategies and receive insights based on historical data and patterns. This is especially valuable when unsure about a specific market move or business decision.

• Provides objective insights without human biases.
• Can process vast amounts of data quickly.
• Lacks human intuition and emotional intelligence.
• Relies heavily on historical data, which might not always predict future outcomes.

3. Market Research and Statistics:

‍ AI tools can provide a general overview of market sizes, segmentation, and other vital statistics. This is especially useful when you're venturing into an unfamiliar market.

• Quick snapshot of market dynamics.
• Saves time and resources on primary research.
• Generalized data might not cater to specific business needs.
• The accuracy might vary based on the niche and specificity of the query.

Using AI Effectively in Business Planning

While AI provides numerous advantages, it's crucial to utilize these tools effectively:

• Complement, Don't Replace : Use AI to complement your human intuition and industry insights. It shouldn't replace human judgment.
• Ask Specific Questions : The more specific you are with your queries, the better the AI can assist you.
• Double-Check Critical Data : For vital decisions, always double-check AI-provided data with other sources.
• Continuous Learning : AI tools evolve and improve. Keeping abreast of their updates ensures you're always getting the best out of them.

In conclusion, AI, when used judiciously, can be a game-changer in business planning. However, a balanced approach, combining AI insights with human judgment, is the key to crafting a robust and effective business plan.

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Business Driven Technology Strategy & Planning

Drive growth and agility in today’s digitally transformed era through a carefully curated Technology strategy

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10+ Best Business Plan Software and Tools in 2024

If you ask any successful sports coach how they can win so many games, they will tell you that they have a unique plan for every single game they coach. To win any of their opponents, they need to prepare a specific game plan tailored to each of their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. Otherwise, they will get crushed.

The same logic applies to doing business. If you want to start a business , developing a robust business plan will be one of the first steps you should take. It’ll cover everything from a detailed explanation of your products/ services and pricing model to at least three years of financial projections - plus much more.

So, whether you are not sure how to get started or you are just looking to make the process easier, you may want to turn to business plan software and tools for help .

In this guide, we’ll break down 10+ of the best business plan software and tools - discussing their key features, pros, cons, pricing plans, and more - so you’ll get all the necessary information to decide which one is right for your business.

We should begin right now!

Table of contents

What is business plan software?

Pros and cons of using business plan software, features to look for in business plan software, 1. liveplan, 3. planguru, 5. gosmallbiz, 6. business plan pro, 7. bizplanbuilder, 9. upmetrics, 10. iplanner, 11. business sorter, 12. maus masterplan, 13. the business plan shop, over to you.

First and foremost, a business plan is a detailed road map highlighting the future of business operations. It’s not limited to established organizations but can be written for small businesses to forecast their operations.

Business plan software is specifically designed to guide you through each step of your business plan and fill any gaps. That way, you will be more efficient in clarifying direction, attracting financing, developing team members, and eventually reaching your business goals.

As a business owner, it’s essential to consider whether new software or tools will benefit your business or needlessly add to your overhead. So, before purchasing business plan software, thoroughly weigh the following pros and cons against your business needs.

As a matter of fact, business plan software offers several benefits, including:

Step-by-step guidance . Business plan software has a detailed step-by-step guide to help you make the right choices for your business. It takes the guesswork out of aligning your business’s structure and cash flow forecast with future goals. This is specifically helpful if you are not sure how to begin.

Statement and report generation . Many small business owners don’t have a strong financial background or understanding of the strategic aspects of a business plan. That’s where a business plan tool comes in handy - it creates reports, graphs, and documents based on the information you’ve entered. These generated statements and reports can undoubtedly save you a considerable amount of time.

Accurate reporting . Creating a business plan from scratch by yourself may result in missed mistakes, skewing the data, and rendering reports - and hours of work - useless. A well-designed business plan software often comes with guarantees for accountability and accuracy in any reports generated under that program.

Customization . Business plan tools typically offer the option to personalize your reports. It also gives you the freedom to test out multiple scenarios depending on your long-term business goals, providing you more confidence in your business.

Easy to update . It’s so simple to adjust or replace any ideas or numerical calculations for a different outcome using a business plan tool. Certain features also keep you up to date on your business’s current situation and give you an insight into your future endeavors.

However, business plan software can also come with a few downsides, such as:

Lack of flexibility . Some business plan software only allows for specific customizations, which could limit personalizing your business plan. This includes sticking to available templates the software provides and being unable to rewrite the script or customize certain points in the data (unless you upgrade to a more expensive subscription plan).

Missed industry insights . As you aren’t writing the base coding that makes up a business plan tool, there may be discrepancies between your industry and the developed software. This could lead to missing out on essential industry insights and practical experience.

Expensive price tag . Depending on each type, some business plan tools can be pricey. They can range from basic plans to premium versions; however, it’s difficult to know whether the premium plan will assist you or just create a dent in your budget.

There are a lot of reasons to buy business plan software, but there are also some drawbacks that might turn you away from the investment. Therefore, weigh your options according to your business’s specific needs and determine which is right for you.

If you decide to purchase business plan software, it’s worth considering several key features to make sure that the process of creating your plan is smooth. Below is more about the specific features to look for in a business plan software application.

Step-by-step wizard . Step-by-step wizards take much of the guesswork out of trying to decide which sections to work on and in which order. This feature can take you through each section and make sure you’re including everything your plan needs.

Templates . Setting up a business plan from scratch can be tough. That’s why it’s great to have a jumping-off point. Many tools include dozens, if not hundreds, of templates to choose from. Many templates are geared toward particular types of businesses, so you can pick one that is right in line with the business you’re planning.

Financial projections . Most software applications can provide you with financial tools, so you can lay out your case for a successful venture. With some options, you plug in the numbers for expenses, cash flow, revenue, etc., and churn our financial projections. The easier this process is, the better your business plan creation experience is.

Charts and graphs . The tool you choose should be able to turn the financial data into eye-catching charts and graphs automatically. This will make your business plan more enticing to potential investors.

Integrations . Some software integrates with popular accounting programs, such as QuickBooks or Xero . This is useful when transferring financial details from your accounting software into your business plan, so that your plan is free from mathematical errors.

Contributors . Many businesses aren’t being launched by one person only. When multiple people are involved, you’d like all of your collaborators to contribute to the development of your business plan. That’s why you need to verify the number of contributors who can make edits to the plan. Some software caps this number, while others allow for unlimited contributors.

Additional services . Some software providers offer access to additional services that new entrepreneurs may find helpful, such as digital marketing help, website design services, and direct contact with consultants who can provide knowledgeable advice.

10+ best business plan software and tools

LivePlan can be the right pick for you, in case you want template-rich, modern-feeling business plan software. With more than 500 free and full-length sample business plans for inspiration, together with step-by-step assistance, you can start without any hassle.

The platform offers advanced financial services that automatically calculate financial outcomes for the five upcoming years. Plus, if you’re a Xero or QuickBooks user, you can easily import your data into the system to gain an in-depth view of how your business is performing from a financial standpoint.

You can start with a one-page business plan before moving to a complete professional plan that can be used to pitch to investors. The final business is not only high-quality but also professional. As all the charts and graphs are well-organized and easy-to-understand, you’ll love them.

Key features:

• More than 500 templates
• One-page business plan with a fill-in-the-blank template to jot down your ideas
• Access to educational materials
• Availability of financial charts and graphs
• Industry benchmark comparison
• Intuitive, modern interface
• A huge number of customizable templates
• Bank-level security
• Affordable plans
• Able to work on multiple active plans simultaneously
• Variety of business resources, including step-by-step instruction, video tutorials, and general customer support
• 60-day money-back guarantee
• Require a learning curve
• Can’t customize financial projection dates
• Limited third-party integrations

Pricing plans:

• Pay-as-you-go plan: $20/ month (billed monthly)
• 6-month plan: $18/ month (billed every 6 months)
• Annual plan: $15/ month (billed annually)

VISIT LIVEPLAN

Specifically built for tech startups, Bizplan will help you create a customizable business pitch and plan that appeals to several investors.

As a part of the Startups.com suite, Bizplan gets top marks for its easy-to-use, intuitive, and modern user interface. You will work with a step-by-step business plan builder to get exactly what you want from your business plan. It might remind you of a modern website builder , as it has drag-and-drop tools to build templates.

Moreover, if you’re a paying user, you’ll have access to all the materials in the Education corner, including online courses and more than 600 in-depth videos to help you explore more things.

In case you have an issue, you can get in touch with its customer representative during business hours (from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m to 9 p.m), or send an email with all the questions you may be having.

• Drag-and-drop templates for business plan building
• Ability to track all business financials in one place with the financial command center
• Ability to access Fundable.com, an online fundraising platform that connects startups or small businesses to potential investors
• Unlimited account collaborators
• Availability of online courses, including tracks, master classes, guides, and expert answers
• Ability to control who can view or comment on your internal business information
• User-friendly, intuitive drag-and-drop business plan builder
• Excellent educational materials
• Subscription options give you access to all Startups.com tools
• You can easily integrate it with bookkeeping software
• Available lifetime pricing
• No free trial
• No mobile compatibility
• No templates based on specific industry
• Limited financial projection customization
• Monthly plan: $29/ month
• Annual plan: $20.75/ month
• Lifetime access plan: $349

VISIT BIZPLAN

PlanGuru is a cloud-based budgeting and business plan software that is all about financial planning. It offers more than 20 insider forecasting methods, allowing you to create projections for up to 10 years.

On top of budgeting and financial analysis, the tool lets you set goals and analyze performance. It also provides a rolling forecast, helping you understand the implications of spending on overall cash flow before you do it. Furthermore, strategic planning helps you manage your team and keep everyone accountable.

With its income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet, you can see how your venture will map out in a range of different scenarios. Furthermore, it enables you to harness turnkey methods and use business drivers to predict growth.

Unfortunately, PlanGuru doesn’t include the expert consultation function, so you’ll need to seek mentorship elsewhere. However, if you want a solution that can streamline the financial piece of your business plan, PlanGuru certainly has the most to offer.

• Budgeting and forecasting for up to ten years
• More than 20 standard forecasting methods
• Dashboard and reporting tools
• Formula builder to set up custom methods
• Ratios and KPIs
• Work with Quickbooks, Xero, and Excel
• Help guides, video tutorials, knowledgebase, and US-based customer support
• Extensive financial tools and detailed budgeting, forecasting, and reporting capabilities
• A substantial library of educational resources
• 14-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee
• No templates or tools for basic business plan writing
• Difficult to get started without prior financial knowledge
• Expensive, especially for additional users
• Monthly plan: $99/ month (additional users: $29/ month)
• Annual plan: $899/ year (additional users: $299/ year)

VISIT PLANGURU

If you’re looking for an easy-to-navigate solution that can complete your business plan quickly, Enloop is there for you. It does this through its Autowrite feature and performance score that acts as a digital mentor.

Furthermore, Enloop has a strong focus on the financial aspect of the process, which is ideal for people with great ideas but aren’t necessarily financial wizards. Demonstrating profitability is crucial for raising capital from investors, and the software delves into this financial viability of your vision. It lets you add charts and graphs and analyze 16 distinct financial ratios.

It also allows you to compare financial projections with industry averages, so that you’ll get a clear picture of how your idea stacks up. You’re able to consult with an expert in case you need guidance. Enloop also offers business plan templates and an HR/ legal document builder, making it one of the strongest candidates for first-time start-ups.

Key features: *

• AutoWrite and TextSync features automatically create basic customized text for your business plan
• 16 different financial ratios indicate your financial health
• Performance score from 0-100 serves as motivation to complete the plan
• More than 100 currency symbols and number formatting
• Access to business templates
• Attractive interface
• Automatically populated text
• Well-explained financial ratios
• Instant access to all business reports
• 7-day free trial
• Affordable pricing plans
• Limited additional education resources
• Limited customer support
• Detailed plan: $11/ month (billed annually)
• Performance plan: $24/ month (billed annually)

VISIT ENLOOP

Initiated by NFL Hall of Famer and veteran entrepreneur Fran Tarkenton, GoSmallBiz offers hundreds of industry-specific templates that create the exact documents users need. Plus, its step-by-step wizard helps you set up a business plan by filling up business details in multiple segments.

Another helpful feature is its online calendar management. You can schedule events, meetings, and appointments and get automatic reminders. Besides, it lets you generate financial statements and projections. You’re allowed to create a range of insightful reports, such as profit and sales analysis, cash flow, balance sheets, and more.

For anyone new to business planning, GoSmallBiz offers a slew of online learning tools, including business courses, business mentoring, and weekly updates. It also provides help from a real CEO and business planning expert, so you can entirely rest assured knowing that you will never be steered in the wrong direction.

In addition to the business plan software, it provides a customer relationship management (CRM) tool , text-based business consultations, and legal business documents. No other business plan software offers this suite of tools - all for one cost.

• Step-by-step guide walks you through every single step
• Around 100 business templates
• Financial projections and statements
• Reports based on your financial data
• Integrate with major social media channels, such as Mailchimp, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter
• A wide range of industry-based templates
• Multiple educational videos
• Unlimited mentoring and business consultations
• Customized reporting
• Several additional business tools
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Outdated interface
• Limited business plan features
• Expensive monthly cost compared to alternatives
• Lack of an annual subscription package
• Only exports to PDFs and Microsoft Word

Pricing plan : $39/ month (billed monthly)

VISIT GOSMALLBIZ

As one of the leading business plan tools, Business Plan Pro offers top-notch technical and customer support to help small businesses succeed. Moreover, it provides clear instructions and cutting-edge funding tools to create a robust business plan and impress potential investors.

The software offers up to more than 500 business plan templates and samples, which are present in the preferred format of investors, banks, and SBA-approved lenders. There are also different categories of templates, such as Manufacturing, Travel & Transportation, Travel, etc., to help you choose from.

In addition, Business Plan Pro enables you to import data directly from Quickbooks, and export your business plan to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, or transform it into a PDF format.

• More than 500 business plan templates
• Built-in formulas and financial statements
• Ability to create visually appealing forecasts with drag-and-drop graphic forecaster tool
• Ability to import data from Quickbooks, and export to Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Strong technical and customer support team
• A wide range of business plan templates
• Detailed guidance for businesses
• An extended money-back guarantee (60 days)
• No collaboration opportunities
• Old-school interface design
• Standard Package Plan: $99.95 one-time purchase
• Premier Package Plan: $159.95 one-time purchase

VISIT BUSINESS PLAN PRO

As an intuitive business plan tool, BizPlanBuilder provides a simple wizard that walks users through step-by-step business planning. With its premade industry-specific templates, the software can help you craft a plan that reflects your business goals.

With a single link, you can share your plan with investors online. So, instead of sharing bulky attachments, you can present your plan directly in a browser using modern navigation.

If calculation is not your strength, don’t worry! BizPlanBuilder’s financial tools, including calculators, cost analysis, financial projections, budget sheets, charts, and graphs, will help you with that. It also lets users import financial data from different accounting software programs.

In addition to business planning and financial features, the software offers real-time collaboration, meaning multiple team members can simultaneously view and edit the business plan.

• Premade industry-specific templates for business planning
• Available financial tools, including calculators, chart and graph generators, and budget-feasibility tools
• The collaboration feature lets team members log in, view, and edit the business plan at the same time
• Available technical support, including email and telephone support, FAQs, and video tutorials
• Eye-appealing visuals
• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop templates
• Various industry-specific templates
• In-depth presentations
• No mobile-friendliness
• Difficulty in exporting PDFs
• BizPlanBuilder for startups/ funding/ MBA students: $97/ year (add as many team members as you want for $10/ year each)
• BizPlan Builder for growing the company/ strategic planning/ growth financing: $27/ month (add an unlimited number of team, advisors, investors for $1/ month each)

VISIT BIZPLANBUILDER

Cuttles is a fully interactive and guided business plan software that helps entrepreneurs build, understand and grow their business.

Their web app has all the features and in-app guides you need to create a startup pitch, write a business plan, define a startup team, do budgets and financial projections. It’s simpler, faster and more impactful than ever to start a business.

• Cloud-based web app
• Strong focus on simplicity with UX and design
• Freemium version
• Fully guided and customisable business plan
• One-page pitch section for investors
• Financial forecasts and budgets
• Team feature to showcase your team
• Available in 6 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, & Danish
• Share & Export options: Share with links, export to PDF, & invite members to view in the app
• Student discounts and diversity pricing initiatives
• Freemium - limited features: no help guides, no share/export, no budgets feature
• Seed Plan - 1 startup, 1 member, all features - €8 (billed annually)
• Grow Plan - 1 startup, unlimited members (collaboration), all features - €16 (billed annually)
• Series Plan - unlimited startups, unlimited members, all features - €48 (billed annually)

VISIT CUTTLES

Upmetrics is a well-rounded business demand planning software that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs find success in their business planning processes and growth strategies.

Are you just starting your business? Easily create a polished, professional business plan that lenders and investors will appreciate. Upmetrics simplifies the process of writing a business plan with step-by-step guidance, 200+ sample plans, and excellent customer support.

Are you looking to grow your business? Make confident decisions by forecasting your financials, and preparing your budget in Upmetrics.

Upmetrics is used by over 100K+ entrepreneurs all across the globe to plan their businesses and collaborate with remote teams to create growth strategies. Along with that, the software makes it easier to keep track of your projects and customize your plans as per your needs and requirements.

Key features: -Business Plan Builder -Financial Forecasting -Pitch Deck Creator -Business Models -200+ Sample Business Plans -Business Plan Cover Pages -Share With Pride -Comments & Feedback

Pros: -Business plan builder:- Guides you on creating your business plan at every step so you can have the clarity and confidence to excel in your business. -Financial forecast:- Finance is the lifeline of any business. With our financial forecasting tool, create accurate financial sheets to convince investors & banks of your business viability and calculate your monthly & yearly financial projection. -Pitch deck designer:- With our pitch deck designer, make your business pitch ready and present your business to investors & banks with confidence! -Business Model Canvas:- Business Model canvases bring planning and collaboration to the next level with great canvases and a great app.

Cons: -We dont have the real time live tracking of system -Our business plan templates are kinda generic -Our finanical forecast is limited to only 5 years

Pricing: -Upmetrics: Free Demo - $0 -Upmetrics Solo: $9 per month -Upmetrics Team: $14 per month -Upmetrics Premium: $48 per month

VISIT UPMETRICS

Launched in 2007, iPlanner has been helping many businesses raise finance for growth, manage risks, and improve internal communication. The software is designed as a planner for new enterprises, but it can also function as a project management tool.

The business modeling framework helps you generate a business model in real-time while collaborating efficiently with your team members. Plus, it offers various user-friendly business plan templates, such as venture capital business plan, restaurant business plan, elevator pitch, etc.

The software is also equipped with a financial engine to gauge different metrics, like sales, quantities sold, forecast price, and more. Moreover, all the projects have separate and secure URLs to protect your confidential business information.

You can integrate iPlanner with Microsoft Office and Dropbox, so collaboration and contribution are extremely easy. There’s also a huge library of how-to articles and business plan samples to help you stay on track.

• Business plan templates
• Step-by-step wizard to help you right from the start
• Financial templates and projections
• Integrate with Dropbox and Microsoft Office
• Expert mentors provide personalized assistance
• Available customer support via emails, how-to guides, and expert consultation
• Premade industry-specific templates to create custom business plans
• Feed-in content from different external sources, such as websites, MS Word, Excel, corporate intranets, etc.
• Regular backup of your data on the cloud
• Pretty old-school interface
• No monthly pricing option
• Professional plan: $55 (billed annually, 1 project)
• Corporate plan: $93 (billed annually, 12 projects)
• Corporate Plus plan: Custom pricing

VISIT IPLANNER

Business Sorter is a cloud-based solution that offers the content to create plans you can share and keep track on. The content covers six key areas, including finance, sales, brand, people, operations, and goods and services.

The platform promises to simplify and speed up business planning via a novel 273 card sort system that covers many common situations. You can also include, edit the existing cards, delete, or add your own ones.

You can keep everything, including your ideas and thoughts, at a centralized location. It also offers tips and advice at every step to help you put your strategy into action. Unlike some software with videos, the educational resources here are provided as Word files and PDFs, which can be quicker to access, but harder to follow for some beginners.

• Card-based planning system with 273 digital cards
• Built-in tips and additional information
• Add team members and assign tasks
• Multi-device access
• Secure data protection
• Innovative, visual plan builder
• Unique card sort system to simplify planning
• Real-time collaboration with an unlimited number of users
• Regular updates for free
• Strong data security
• 14-day business trial
• Limited in financial planning needs
• No video educational resources
• Small Team plan: $80/ year (3 users, billed annually)
• Medium Team plan: $240/ year (10 users, billed annually)
• Large Team plan: $640/ year (30 users, billed annually)
• Enterprise plan: custom pricing (unlimited users)

VISIT BUSINESS SORTER

MAUS MasterPlan is an Australian business plans solution with more than 60,000 clients worldwide. It aims to make the creation and implementation of your business strategy simple by offering templates, walkthroughs, and education for every step of the process.

You can generate detailed action plans based on your specific goals and projections for the future. Moreover, it’s possible to delegate tasks within the program and track progress.

If you want to calculate your finances, you just need to put the details, and it’ll do the rest. Other than that, it allows your team members to access your plans. You can invite them to help you with the business plan and invite your accountant to review once more once you’re done with the work.

MAUS MasterPlan includes information about segmentation, so it’s easy to break large markets down into smaller ones. According to that, you’re able to create different strategies for the various segments. More than financial reports for budgeting and projections, the tool can generate marketing and performance reports.

• Step-by-step wizard guides you through the whole strategic planning process
• Create cash flow and financial budgets & 5-year forecasts
• Market segmentation features
• Collaboration features
• Easy to use
• Detailed statement and impressive graphs
• Automated action plan monitors different tasks to keep the whole team on track
• Expensive for startups and small businesses
• Real-time errors occur sometimes
• Business planning & HR Pack: $97/ month
• MasterPlan Lean: $299/ year
• Business Planning Pack: $499/ year

VISIT MAUS MASTERPLAN

Last but not least, as one of the best business plan tools out there, The Business Plan Shop can help you generate a simple yet effective plan.

The software features a user-friendly interface and clean design. Once you sign up, you will enjoy an in-depth business plan together with instructions that you need to make one.

More than that, its financial forecasting section will collect your product and service information, so you can play around with the figures and come up with the right directions for your business. It can help you to forecast for up to 3 or 5 years.

• A financial forecast over 3 or 5 years
• Step-by-step guide with instructions and examples
• Exports to MS Word or PDF format
• Chart, break-even point analysis, financial analysis, and credit analysis
• Quite easy to use
• Clear instructions and examples for each section of your business plan
• Strong data protection
• Helpful educational materials
• Limited business planning features
• Can’t import financial information from spreadsheets
• Monthly plan: $22/ month
• Yearly plan: $12.5/ month

VISIT THE BUSINESS PLAN SHOP

Now that you’ve read through the 10+ best business plan software available, it’s time to decide which one is best for you. It can be helpful to consider specific features you’re looking for, as well as your business budget. By doing so, you will have a set of criteria in mind when you explore different solutions.

For future recommendations, don’t forget to bookmark this blog post. We’ll continuously update it with juicy content that helps you create a solid business plan for any projects.

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