Why IT Strategy and Governance Are Essential for Business Growth

The primary focus of IT since its inception and introduction to the commercial environment has been to reduce costs by automating processes and introducing various applications.

For too many Australian organisations, the above has not changed in 40 years, IT remains a cost centre—a necessary evil, rather than the powerful driver of innovation and value it truly is. What if your IT function could become the engine that propels your business forward, unlocking new opportunities, minimising risk, and delivering measurable results?

At Microsolve, we know this isn’t just possible—it’s essential. Our approach to IT Strategy and Governance is the cornerstone of our IT consulting services, and it’s where true transformation begins.

The C-Suite Dilemma: Why IT Alignment Matters

Imagine sitting in the boardroom (or the local cafe!), reviewing this year’s business strategy. Growth targets are ambitious. Customer experience is a top priority. Regulatory pressures are mounting. Yet, when it comes time to discuss IT, the conversation turns to budgets, system upgrades, and troubleshooting. Sound familiar?

This disconnect is all too common. According to Gartner, over 70% of digital transformation initiatives fail to deliver expected outcomes—not because of technology, but because of misalignment between IT and business strategy.

The result? Wasted investment, missed opportunities, and increased risk.

In many respects, IT is it's own worst enemy - the continual release of new widgets, often just a cheaper version of the previous, has driven this impression that IT "just" enables cheaper outcomes.  But what if those outcomes are heading in the wrong direction?  We all understand that no matter how cheap a bus fare is, if the bus is going the wrong way, you've wasted your money!

This is WHY strategic alignment of IT outcomes to business is an absolute must - knowing the difference between a cheap bus fare and a bus going the wrong way is not always obvious when your standing at the bus stop.  To keep this analogy going, IT strategy is the equivalent of having the bus route map and knowing the next stop, when it should arrive and how busy it is likely to be.  Rarely is that level of detail available at the Bus stop!

Turning IT into a Value Engine

Strategy and Governance isn’t about more meetings or paperwork. It’s about creating a powerful, living connection between your business goals and every IT decision, investment, and action. Here’s how Microsolve leads the way:

1. Building Shared Vision - Starting with the Business Strategy and the current state of IT systems, alignment of future requirements is undertaken with gap analysis defining roadblocks, choke points and opportunities;
2. Defining Key Metrics - There is power in "3's"! Agreeing on THREE key metrics that are understandable, measurable and drive action;
3. Focussed IT Actions - Knowing what is next and why is critical to keep teams focussed - not just for today and tomorrow, but for next week, next month and next quarter!

Our approach draws on globally recognised frameworks such as COBIT, ITIL, and ISO 38500—but we don’t just tick boxes. We translate best practice into practical, business-focused action tailored to your business.

The Payoff: Confidence, Clarity, and Competitive Edge

When your IT strategy is truly aligned with your business vision, something remarkable happens:

• Leaders gain confidence. No more second-guessing IT spend or fearing the next disruption.

• Teams are energised. Everyone understands how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

• Growth accelerates. Technology becomes a lever for innovation, not a bottleneck.

Why Microsolve? Unleashing Your Competitive Edge

At Microsolve, we don’t just advise—we partner. Our consultants are experts in both business and technology, fluent in the language of the boardroom and the server room. We’re relentless in our pursuit of your success, and our tagline says it all: Unleashing Your Competitive Edge with Expert IT Solutions.