ATTACHMENT 2 – ICT Strategy Template
The ICT Strategy Process Guidelines should be read before reading or working with this Template for
the ICT Strategy document.
The Template contains high level examples and directions based on use by a broad range of Councils
across the sector.
It is expected it will be edited for use to suit the circumstances of individual Councils.
Directions to the writer are in blue.
Sample text is in blue and italics.
MAV Technology (formerly Local Government Information and Communications Technology Group)
Municipal Association of Victoria | Level 12, 60 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000 | GPO Box 4326, Melbourne 3001
(03) 9667 5509 | Mob: 0412 992 005 | Email lbennetto@mav.asn.au | www.mav.technology
ICT Strategy
for (your Council)
2013-2016
ICT Strategy Template v1.0
March 2013
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Document History
Version Number
0.1
Date
xxx
Name
John Smith
Notes
Initial draft
Issued To
Peter Johnson
Purpose
Initial draft
Document Acceptance
Version Number
0.1
ICT Strategy Template v1.0
Issue Date
xxx
March 2013
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Table of Contents
1.0
Acronyms and Definitions ........................................................................................................... 5
2.0
Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... 6
3.0
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 7
3.1
ICT Vision................................................................................................................................. 7
3.2
Strategy Purpose Statement ................................................................................................... 7
3.3
Business Review & Consultation ............................................................................................. 8
4.0
The Current Environment ........................................................................................................... 8
4.1
The ICT environment............................................................................................................... 8
4.2
Resourcing............................................................................................................................... 9
4.3
Challenges ............................................................................................................................... 9
4.4
Risks ........................................................................................................................................ 9
5.0
Business Direction and Change Drivers .................................................................................... 10
6.0
How we will achieve the Future State ...................................................................................... 10
7.0
Key Initiatives ............................................................................................................................ 11
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1.0
Acronyms and Definitions
As the Strategy document will be written in plain English and for a non-technical audience it is
recommended that acronyms are kept to a minimum.
Acronym
Definitions
ICT
SAN
Information Communication Technology
Storage Area Network
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2.0
Executive Summary
The purpose of an Executive Summary is to provide in a concise format the main points of the body
of the document.
The Summary is designed to be used by Executive level management who may not have time to read
the complete document.
It should be no longer than 1-3 pages in length.
After the body of the document has been written then develop the Summary by writing a paragraph
on each section.
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March 2013
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3.0 Introduction
3.1
ICT Vision
Most Council ICT Departments have an existing Vision Statement.
Sample text:
In order to facilitate the Council Business Plan our ICT Department’s Vision is to provide a robust
and secure ICT platform, making efficient use of existing technology and skills, encouraging
innovation and utilising emerging technologies to assist with the delivery of community services.
3.2
Strategy Purpose Statement
This statement explains to the reader why an ICT Strategy is needed and should make a direct
link with the Council Business Plan and align with Local Government sector priorities.
Sample text:
The purpose of the ICT Strategy is to provide a technology roadmap for the future that meets our
Council’s requirements and is aligned with the Council Business Plan and sector-wide direction.
Fig. 1, Alignment of Council Business Plan and ICT Strategy
The above diagram can be used to demonstrate alignment of Council Business Plan objectives
with technology Strategy and the subsequent Key Initiatives.
Where relevant the Strategy should also align with MAV LGICT sector-wide approaches to
technology which are: efficiency, sustainability, and innovation through collaboration.
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Sample text:
The ICT Strategy covers the period 2013 to 2016 and will be reviewed yearly.
3.3
Business Review & Consultation
Sample text:
A business review of the existing ICT environment has been conducted. This review included the
following Departments:



Technical Services
Application Services
Information Services
Organisation-wide consultation with every Business Unit across the Council was also conducted.
Managers were asked about the direction of their businesses over the next 3 years, what internal
and external factors may create impact and what major changes did they see taking place.
Industry research was also undertaken with Gartner, IBRS and OVUM to further understand
technology trends.
Provide further detail on the consultation process undertaken by your Council to develop the
Strategy.
4.0
The Current Environment
4.1
The ICT environment
Sample text:
Business Applications
List business applications here
Network Infrastructure/Hardware
List Network Infrastructure/Hardware
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Communication Links
List Communications Links here
Desktop
List details of your desktop environment here
The ICT Department continues to provide a robust and secure ICT environment based on the
information collected during the review and consultation and key metrics from regular reporting
as follows:
Measure
Result
Number of support calls
xx calls
Network uptime during business hours
xx %
Customer satisfaction
xx %
4.2
Resourcing
Sample text:
ICT staffing levels consist of:
9 eft personnel including 2 contractors
2 Technical Services
2 Application Services
5 Information Services
4.3
Challenges
Sample Text
Investment
There are existing pressures on Council budgets which are likely to increase due to economic
uncertainty. This requires the ICT Department to ensure we are providing the highest value
technical solutions available and delivering services in the most effective way.
Skill Gaps
Software users across the Council have skills gaps. The level of uptake of existing technology
could be improved through user training particularly on core business applications. This would
support increased return on investment in software licensing.
4.4
Risks
Sample text:
There are existing risks in the environment identified as follows.
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Risk 1: Although reporting still shows a good level of customer satisfaction, ICT has insufficient
people resources to cover the amount of work and this is creating pressure on the Department.
The risk is that the Department may not be able to maintain current service levels, particularly
when technology change is being introduced. To mitigate this risk we are currently advertising
for more qualified technical staff and have support from two short term contractors.
Risk 2: Council has invested in but not maintained what are now legacy systems lacking in
functionality and support is no longer available for these systems. There is a risk that the data on
these systems could be lost due to system failure and the lack of available support. This risk is
being mitigated by moving data from the legacy systems concerned (need to state the systems
here) to new systems (need to state name of new systems).
5.0
Business Direction and Change Drivers
Describe here the changes in operating conditions that are expected.
Sample text:
The following business operating conditions and change drivers will impact the ICT Department.
These changes are seen as excellent opportunities for ICT to provide high value solutions for the
business:




6.0
Internal and external demands for information on which to base business decisions are
increasing. There is now a requirement for data at all times and on many different
platforms and devices. Industry Analysts defined new technology directions as cloud
based services and mobility solutions and as the availability of these solutions increases
so will demand.
Web 2.0 and social media emergence is creating a high demand for increased interaction
with the community through these technologies
There is an increased requirement for ICT security and protection of private data due to
legislative changes
Council will be moving to new accommodation in the first part of 2014 due to a
requirement for increased space.
How we will achieve the Future State
Items in the table below should not be in this table if they haven’t been discussed earlier in the
document. All items discussed previously should be in the table with a strategy to address.
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ICT will address the issues and the required Future State through the use of the following Strategies:
ID
1.
Issue
Pressure on budgets and ICT
investment
Skills gaps across Council on core
business applications
Increased requirements for data
access
Increased community interaction
Increased requirements for
mobile computing
ICT Security and protection of
data
Move to new Council Offices
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Strategy
Continue to provide cost effective ICT solutions and
maximise investment in ICT personnel.
Develop an effective organisation-wide learning framework
for software training.
Continue to investigate data accessibility solutions through
cloud computing
Develop Web 2.0 and social media strategies
Review business processes against this requirement
Regularly review organisation-wide ICT security, update
where required, communicate necessary behaviours
Ensure effective project governance framework is in place
and that the project is resourced adequately
At a high level state whether each Strategy will require changes in:




7.0
Architecture ie physical technical architecture
Core applications ie program for lodgement of building applications
Governance ie project management methodology, ICT policies and procedures
Organisational changes ie increased skills through more people resources or training
Key Initiatives
Sample Text:
The following Key Initiatives are proposed:
ID
1.
Issue or Requirement
Pressure on budgets
and ICT investment
Strategy
Continue to provide cost
effective ICT solutions and
maintain infrastructure.
Continue to invest in IT skills
internally.
2.
Skills gaps across
Council on core
business applications
Requirement for
increased community
interaction and
consultation
An effective organisationwide learning framework for
software training.
Social media and Web 2.0
Increasing
requirement for data
access
Mobility solutions
Cloud computing
Plan a phased approach for Data
Accessibility Solution
Mobile computing for asset
Ensure business processes are
3.
4.
5.
ICT Strategy Template v1.0
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Initiative
Maximise the investment in
business applications through
improved management of
software licensing, upgrade SAN.
Train ICT staff in identified skills
gaps.
Work with Organisation
Development to set up and then
roll out training to software users.
Development of social media
strategy, software solution and
website redevelopment
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inspections
6.
7.
ICT Security and
protection of data
Move to new Council
Offices
Cloud computing
Project Governance
framework
effective, develop device
management policies
Security Audit by security
specialist, update virus protection
Project Management training
Further detail including timing and budgets on these initiatives is contained in the detailed Action
Plan for 2013 – 2016.
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