It must also be continually evolving, growing more elaborate and changing as the organization moves forward. It does not, nor should be, perfect and set in stone before engaging the organization.

It answers the though questions: What projects do we choose? How do we prioritize them? Are we capable of executing them? Are they even the right avenues to pursue?

With a well defined Strategy IT gains:

• Focus. Decisions become quantifiable. Wasteful initiatives are weeded out, and prioritization becomes easy. Constant direction changes are all but non existent.

 
• A Definition of how IT will enable long-term business objectives.

 
• Clear objectives, allowing implementation teams to understand what's expected of them and what their definition of success is.

 
• Motivated teams. Everyone is facing the right direction, on the same page, and under a common mission. Half the battle to motivating teams!