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

2.3. ORGANIZATION READINESS

Organization readiness involves looking at critical dimensions within a company to determine how much IT portfolio management it can absorb. Assessing the readiness of the organization for IT portfolio management enables pinpointing where IT portfolio management can provide the most value within the enterprise. As it is embraced by the enterprise, reassessment of organization readiness helps target future objectives for expanding the scope of IT portfolio management. Whereas some organizations have clearly defined IT investment processes, others lack structure for IT investments. Some organizations view IT as a necessary evil; other organizations view IT as a valuable strategic enabler.

Various factors must be considered to determine the organization's readiness for IT portfolio management. Exhibit 2.1 lists factors to consider when assessing readiness for institutionalizing IT portfolio management. While the dimensions in Exhibit 2.1 do not provide a scientific method for quantifying IT portfolio management readiness, analyzing each dimension will provide adequate information to temper often overly optimistic objectives or scope.