IT Strategic Planning: Creating the Path for a Sustainable Business A Case Study from the MWRD of Greater Chicago

In January 2007, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) commissioned an IT Strategic Plan to align information systems with operations, facilitate best business practices, address business and operational drivers, and support MWRD's Strategic Plan. Through a formal planning process, MWRD developed an integrated, organization-wide IT strategy and consensus among managers on IT priorities. The plan also:Established a life-cycle IT planning approach.Instituted executive communication and promotion of IT strategies.Committed to enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools in conjunction with web services.Defined a program for improving and streamlining business processes.Created IT governance initiative utilizing a program management office (PMO) model.MWRD expected that the plan would be the catalyst for continuous business performance improvements in asset management, regulatory management, financial management, customer service, facilities engineering and construction, integrated budgeting, planning, and more.