Unlocking the true potential of IT in SMEs

The world of the SMB IT Leader has become

complex and is filled with contradictions

The potential of IT is beyond question…

… yet many SMBs struggle to leverage IT!

Nowadays IT is the glue that connects everything…

ITCEO

HR

OperationsMarketing

Finance

… yet IT is often outside of executive decision-making!

CEO

FinanceHR

Operations

Marketing

Sales

The complexity of IT has grown massively …

… yet IT staff growth stagnates!

Source: Spiceworks State of IT Report - 2015

There is so much advice to increase value from IT…

… but it is often very difficult to find relevancy for SMBs!

IT Leaders want to advance in their careers…

IT Leader

… but there is always so much else to do!

It seems like a losing battle for the IT leader

in SMBs……or is there perhaps a way out of this?

Unlocking the true potential of IT in SMEs

Definition of exuviate:• to cast off or shed; molt.

Core Beliefs can turn into Limiting Beliefs (LB)

LB1: From Infrastructure to Business Technology

LB2: From Single to Differentiated IT Leader(s)

The 4 Value Propositions of IT

*Illustrative job titles in enterprises

Business Transformation (CSO*)

Differentiation in the Market (CTO*)

Business Process Optimisation (CPO*)

IT Platform (CIO*)

LB3: From Trusted Advisor to Trusted IT Processes

Ad-hoc

Cost-effective and reliable Platform

Business Process Automation

Differentiation in the Market

Business TransformationBelief in theValue of IT

Trust in IT Processes

Increasing Maturity

IT in the Business

LB4: From Little Control to Incremental Influence

Executives will rarely hand

over the keys to the

kingdom…

… but they are willing to give more and more freedom following small successes

• Each of these 4 Limiting Beliefs is big on its own

• Together they represent a massive hurdle

• To fall back into old “habits” is so easy

• What IT and business leaders need is step by step assistance to establish a new reality for IT.

• For the last 5 years we have been hard at work creating this one of a kind SMB IT methodology

New IT

Busin

ess T

echn

olog

y (BT) Managem

ent

Introducing the RelevantIT Methodology

Current IT (Technology

Management)

BT Resourcing BT Understanding BT Planning BT ResultsBT Vision

The IT Leader View – Anatomy of an Implementation Cycle

1. E

nvis

ioni

ng

2. S

etting

Exp

ecta

tions

3. C

reati

ng U

rgen

cy

4. S

trat

egic

Sou

rcin

g

5. L

eade

rshi

p St

ruct

ure

6. T

eam

Com

posi

tion

7. C

omm

on L

angu

age

8. F

inan

cial

Mod

ellin

g

9. B

ench

mar

king

10. S

ituati

onal

Ana

lysi

s

11. S

trat

egic

Pos

ition

ing

12. O

pera

tiona

l Pl

anni

ng

13. P

roje

cts

14. P

roce

sses

15. R

esul

ts F

ocus

3-6 M

onths

before

FY en

d

Budgeting

FY en

d 3-6 m

onths

before

next

FY en

dStrate

gic Busin

ess

Planning

BT C

ompe

tenc

ies

for

the

IT L

eade

rBu

sine

ss C

alen

dar

Increasing IT Competence, Business Capability and Business Value

https://www.xuviate.com

Stakeholder Assessments - Collect Perceptions

Business IT Perception – Visualise the gaps

Assessment Consolidation – Aligning Perceptions

Implementation Guidance – Step by Step

What and How?

Why?

Business Results?

Implementation Guidance – for every Workflow Item

Tools & Templates

ExampleBT Competency: Financial Modelling BT Cost Modelling Spreadsheets and Applications

BT Service Costing Templates (for Tableau)

Community – For effective collaboration

Problem?

Find a solution by collaborating

Shared context through the Relevant

IT journey

Relevant IT Consultant – to complement and accelerate

• External Person• No Agenda• Deeply Understands

Relevant IT• Value: Accelerated

Implementation

# Companies

Stakeholder Assessments

Business IT Perception

Assessment Consolidation

Implementation Guidance

Tools & Templates

Community

Relevant IT Consultant

Free

∞Yes

Yes

Implementer(USD 99*)

1Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Consultant(USD 199*)

8Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

If Certified

Expert(USD 299*)

32Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

If Certified

Products

* Per month pricing based on yearly commitment

50% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 15% 15% 15% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 5%

Blank Slate (0%)

In Progress (25%)

Good Enough (50%)

Validated (75%)

Very Solid (100%)

Next 90 days (10%)

Next 30 days (15%)

Action Items (5%)

Developing Actionable Content

Relevant IT Builders

A

B C

D

A: 60+ Specialists

B: 15+Subject Matter

Experts

C: 4+VP Specialist

D: 2+Relevant IT Black Belts

# Companies

Assessments

Business IT Divide

Business IT Alignment

Implementation Guidance

Implementation Tools

Market Place

Relevant IT Consultant

Free

1Yes

Yes

Implementer(USD 99*)

1Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

* Terms and Conditions apply

Getting Started with 1 Company – Our Offer

• Free access to Implementer edition until at least end September 2015• Free consulting from a Relevant IT Black

Belt*• Free Facilitated Business IT Alignment

session for companies in SA (valued at R30,000)*• Opportunity to closely collaborate with

like-minded early adopters• Free access for top Relevant IT Builders

after September*

Conclusion

• IT Leaders of SMBs everywhere are struggling with a world of contradictions• There is hope … if we can only overcome our Limiting

Beliefs• Relevant IT provides a step-by-step guide on how to

develop BT Competencies for the IT Leader• Xuviate makes Relevant IT accessible through an

easy to use, online service• There is an amazing offer for early adopters!

mark@xuviate.commathias@xuviate.com