Information and Demand Management 

Many organisations struggle with Business-ICT alignment issues. In other words: how do you make sure that ICT services optimally support the company objectives?

Information Management helps with this issue by aligning the company's demand for information supply at a strategic level to the possibilities which ICT can offer. Information management is an approach to create an information policy plan, an information architecture and an information plan.

Demand Management is aimed at providing guidance towards the realisation of the necessary information supply. Many organisations choose to outsource or offshore (parts of) their ICT or to accommodate them in a shared service centre (SSC). In these cases, ICT supplier management is of vital importance. This is exactly the scope of Demand Management.

The challenge

Inter Access' Information and Demand Management solution enables you to align your demand for information supply at a strategic level to the possibilities offered by ICT. In addition, it enables you to adequately manage your suppliers, both when formulating the assignment (realised by optimally linking Demand Management to Information Management) and when guiding the realisation process.

There is a need for this solution when an obvious relationship exists between the client and the supplier for the ICT services. Reporting about the services provided within this framework (the Service Level Management) is often already in order. The next bottleneck will then be the implementation of changes: new functionality, new projects.

It becomes necessary to clearly list the demand for ICT services, to establish the right priorities, to assess the correct costs and to correctly manage building, delivery and taking over of the new functionality.

The solution

The Information and Demand Management solution consist of:

  • (A series of) Information Management workshops – in these workshops, management, information managers and ICT managers are brought together to align the demand for information supply to the services ICT has to offer. Deliverables are an information policy plan, an information architecture and an information plan;
  • Demand Management Scan – the Demand Management Scan offers insight into the extent to which you have set up the management function with reference to the required information supply;
  • Bridge IT game – this game is pre-eminently suited to let management and employees experience the importance of smooth alignment between Business and ICT. It is possible to use real-life examples in the game. Employees from different departments can be included in the game, which will allow the various responsibilities and communication aspects to emerge as well;
  • Consultancy services – the consultancy services are aimed at leading you further on the path to Information and Demand Management.
How does it work?

Based on the Information Management workshops, an information policy, an information architecture and an information plan are set up. The information policy describes the policy starting points, the principles, the computerisation vision and operation for the next five years. This policy is directive for the role of ICT, the strategic direction of ICT and the approach of ICT issues. The information architecture has a slightly shorter validity of three years and describes the necessary information supply. The information plan has a one-year horizon. It constitutes the execution programme for the next year and describes the necessary ICT programmes and projects needed to implement policy and architecture. The information plan applies to the necessary Services, Processes, Organisation and Technology.

The Demand Management Scan offers you insight into the current level of maturity of Demand Management in various areas (Services, Processes, Organisation and Technology) and on various levels (Strategic, Tactical and Operational). The main aim is to provide insight into whether the organisation is sufficiently able (is mature enough) to adequately manage its ICT suppliers.

This scan is used to provide insight into any bottlenecks or growth opportunities. Based on this scan, an advise and/or plan of approach is set up containing specific steps (sketched in outlines) to remove these bottlenecks and thus to grow to the next level of maturity. Based on the road map, you can commission Inter Access to implement (parts of) this advise or to develop a full plan to achieve an optimal set-up of Demand Management.

Results

The advantages of Information Management are:

  • You are provided with an overview of the total demand for information supply, which will allow you to establish the right priorities. Your money will be invested in the right products;
  • You will get a better insight into the costs and advantages of the total demand; the money will be invested in the most efficient products.

The advantages of Demand Management are:

  • Improved management of the supplier(s) of ICT services. A clearly detailed supply process will improve efficiency and save costs.
  • Objective inventory and measurement of the performance of your own organisation and the supplier's organisation;
  • Thorough analysis and detailed reports provide a clear picture of the current situation and the desired or necessary changes.

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