IT Portfolio Management Step-by-Step: Unlocking the Business Value of Technology

1.3. FORMING, NORMING, STORMING: THE IT LIFE CYCLE

Unfortunately, there is no single point of failure that is causing breakage. In fact, there are failure points across the entire IT life cycle that contribute to poor planning, execution, and alignment of projects and initiatives. According to research, fewer than 25% of Global 2000 IT staff have been formally and effectively schooled in project management. The IT life cycle is comprised of three primary phases: the IT discovery phase, the IT project phase, and the IT asset phase.

IT Discovery Phase

Sometimes called the fuzzy front end, the IT discovery phase occurs during the concept and idea stages of basic research. This phase matures IT investments that are typically longer term, riskier, and more uncertain than the other two phases discussed below. The IT discovery phase provides the locomotive that companies utilize to grow and transform the business. Investments in this phase are inventoried, assessed, balanced, optimized, and selected in the IT discovery portfolio.

IT Project Phase

Sometimes called new product development, this phase is governed by a series of stages and gates for managing the life cycle of projects. Investments made in the IT project phase typically are medium- to short-term investments that companies use to help transform and grow the business. Investments in this phase also include mandatory requirements (e.g., legal, compliance, and safety regulations). Investments in the IT project phase are inventoried, ...