In order to respond to a rapidly shifting business climate, as well as deliver solutions that are tuned to the needs of your firm as a whole, your IT strategy needs to be closely aligned to your business strategy.
Most commonly, misalignment occurs when a firm’s leadership team creates a strategy, then takes it to the Head of IT and asks them to ‘make it work’. This is particularly prevalent within law firms that have a traditional partnership structure, as responsibility is often handed off at too high a level. This results in broad goals that are not concrete enough to be converted into well-informed IT decisions.
It’s for this reason that the IT Director or Manager’s role is developing, with forward-thinking firms appointing a CTO or CIO to the board. This reflects the increasing impact of technology on the legal sector and recognises the need for specialist technical knowledge at senior management level. By ensuring that the CTO/CIO has visibility of operations across all departments, it enables IT to become a strategic business unit that helps to drive the firm forward.
IT leadership is no longer about technical skill and project management. To ensure the maximum value from IT, the department must have a leader who has the ability to analyse the competitive environment, understand the firm’s strategy, and develop an IT roadmap that ensures investment is focused on achieving the firm’s strategic aims.
You may also be interested in:
Building a Strong Business Case for IT Investment
With PI reforms looming once again, how can firms adapt to survive?
Guidance for law firms reviewing email and cybercrime security
