Business Approach How do I do this ? well my best practice approach, is to follow five main process steps for my clients ICT systems solutions and development, these follow a somewhat common sense process and can be located below, with a Summary of this approach below.   The Business Plan This is a key starting point to any Adviser understanding. It is crucial to listen to my clients and understand where the business has come from (it's history) , where it currently is (within it's plans) and how it intends to progress in the future (it's future).   ICT Strategy This is basically the technology details and plan that will match and facilitate the Business Plan. It should be written in plain understood language, which can be simply explained and understood by my clients, and matched to the business plan in such a way that my client can easily see and interpret their technology needs within the business.   Business Tools This is the actual technology (hardware / software / communications etc) that is required, to fully support the business and its forward strategic plans, ensuring the business is “kitted out” and enabled for it's potentially complex operations, communications links, and management information. Currently we have seen the emergence of the “E” (Electronic) Business culture, with email and web sites prominent and becoming a necessity with sometimes complex day to day operations. The tools should both support, and enable this !   Training I firmly believe this to be key and fundamental when engaging ICT. I am able to ensure that my clients get the requisite training, at the right time with the right people, using the computer applications as specified for their organizations. Once again this is key and should not be taken lightly, so often I have seen, scant regard from both suppliers and end users of this very important process step. Ignore it at your cost !   Controls and Responsibilities This can be termed the “accountability” portion of the process steps. Each person who uses technology needs to be accountable for their own operations and actions. However, I do believe that this once more is ultimately the responsibility, of the organization to ensure that there is a manual infrastructure (supporting practice for work flow and operations that integrate with ICT) to explain the significance and practice that must be performed, in order to provide a truly organized ICT system and associated data. Put simply, you need one person with overall responsibility, for new ICT, any changes, and backup information etc. And one deputy for contingency / holidays / sickness etc. Overall accountability should rest with the Managing Director or Senior Management, to ensure this takes place.   In Summary So in summary, I believe my role working with any client as an ICT Adviser is, “whatever your technology needs are, I will discuss your Aims, Plans and Business Objectives, then provide a common sense practical proposal and solution, ensuring you utilize ICT as an effective tool to help you best manage and control your business, therefore bringing you true business benefit and, return on this investment”. If you link to this ongoing support, from me over a given period of time with your project, and enlisting the ICT business solutions via a solid proved supplier network, we have a true winning formula to support your growing businesses.   Go Back