A needs assessment is an organised way of determining gaps between where your business is and where you want it to be. It is typically the first step in any business improvement effort, and an integral part of any business systems planning.
What is a technology needs assessment?
A technology needs assessment is a systematic analysis of your business' IT needs. It's a way of looking at what technology, systems and processes you currently have and use, and what you might need in the future to support your business objectives and growth.
To avoid wasting time and money, and be able to make informed decisions, you should carry out a technology needs assessment before you make any IT purchases or changes in your business.
How to assess technology needs in your business?
The technology needs assessment process typically involves several steps. You should:
1. Gather relevant information
Audit your infrastructure, processes and current systems. Study your workflows and find out how employees use current technology and do their work. Carry out focus groups with relevant staff, or conduct surveys, interviews, etc to collect as much relevant information as you can. You can use many different business analysis tools for strategic planning.
2. Identify drivers for change
Review the strengths and weaknesses of existing IT systems and identify areas that are causing problems. Understand the reasons for change. For example, do you need new IT systems to satisfy new legislation, streamline processes for efficiency, meet customer needs or simply to remain competitive in the market?
3. Determine the requirements
Aim to identify all possible requirements. You can decide later which ones are critical, realistic and affordable. The key is to align IT with your overall business strategy. For example, if your objective is to improve customer service, do you need a new system to communicate with customers more effectively? If you're aiming to increase efficiencies, will the new system help you to simplify operations? If necessary, include your stakeholders in this process.
4. Consider your resources
If you establish a clear need for a new system, decide how much money and time you are willing or able to spend on it. Dedicate resources for the purchase, as well as the implementation of the system, staff training, change management, maintenance and support.
5. Review and prioritise results
If your resources are limited, you may need to prioritise your needs. Work out which system may deliver the most of your requirements for the least amount of money. Make sure to consider the alternatives - perhaps you can resolve your IT problems with adjustments in other areas of business.
Document the outcomes of your needs assessment, so that you can revisit them if necessary. Analyse the results and use them to develop an IT strategy for your business.
