You're struggling to convey the business value of IT projects. How can you get stakeholders on board?
When IT projects seem esoteric, articulating their business value becomes crucial. Here's how to align stakeholders with your vision:
- Quantify benefits in terms of cost, revenue, and efficiency gains to make the value tangible.
- Use case studies or analogies that relate directly to stakeholder interests.
- Regularly update stakeholders on progress, linking back to how this affects business goals.
How have you successfully communicated the value of IT projects to stakeholders?
You're struggling to convey the business value of IT projects. How can you get stakeholders on board?
When IT projects seem esoteric, articulating their business value becomes crucial. Here's how to align stakeholders with your vision:
- Quantify benefits in terms of cost, revenue, and efficiency gains to make the value tangible.
- Use case studies or analogies that relate directly to stakeholder interests.
- Regularly update stakeholders on progress, linking back to how this affects business goals.
How have you successfully communicated the value of IT projects to stakeholders?
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Communicating IT project value is the art of speaking the language of business. Associating products and services to cost, savings, revenue generation or efficiency demonstrates value addition. Examples of practical case studies or analogies help explain the message on a personal level, while updates serve to clarify business objectives. When IT initiatives are aligned with the interests of stakeholders, ownership and trust is formed, which is a prerequisite to success
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In my experience, leading tech functions focus on these key areas to demonstrate business value: (1) Rewiring to product-centric operating models: Shift to product-centric models aligned to customer value streams and leverage TBM frameworks to quantify tech investments (and ROI) (2) Realigning tech funding models to product-centric operations: Use shorter financial planning cycles tied to product iterations and enhance transparency through frequent joint funding reviews with business. (3) Prioritizing impact-based execution: Measure tech execution impact with clear KPIs aligned to business goals along with a prioritization framework led by performance metrics and user/stakeholder insights #TechnologyValue #ProgramManagement #TechROI
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To get stakeholders on board with IT projects, focus on these key strategies: 1. Speak their language: Translate tech jargon into business outcomes 2. Quantify benefits: Use metrics and ROI projections to demonstrate value 3. Align with goals: Show how IT projects support broader business objectives 4. Tell stories: Use case studies and real-world examples to illustrate impact 5. Involve early: Engage stakeholders from the start to build buy-in 6. Visualize success: Create compelling presentations and demos Remember, it's not about the technology—it's about solving business problems.
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Elaborando apresentação com comparativos de investimento e ganho para que as partes interessadas possam entender o porque investir será bom e oque todos tem a ganhar deixando aberto a sugestoes fazndo mais facil a aceitação pois todos sentiram que fizeram realmente parte na tomada de descisao final.
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Understanding your audience is crucial, as they often lack familiarity with IT project details. To advocate for my projects to C-level executives and the board, I quantify the financial value added—linking it to the company’s valuation or savings from tool replacement. I set timelines for measuring returns. While short-term projects yield immediate savings, most generate medium to long-term benefits, such as creating a data area, requiring investment and management effort. It’s vital to measure success in shorter periods and associate financial benefits with stakeholders, demonstrating added value in terms of shareholder value, data accuracy, scalability, and speed.
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One approach I’ve found effective is framing IT projects as business enablers rather than cost centers. Instead of leading with technical jargon, translate cybersecurity or IT initiatives into risk reduction, competitive advantage, or compliance benefits that resonate with executives. For example, instead of "enhancing endpoint security," explain how it prevents costly data breaches and ensures regulatory compliance. Additionally, aligning KPIs with business objectives—such as customer retention or operational efficiency—helps stakeholders see IT as a strategic investment, not just an expense.
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First, We need to understand the client and stakeholders' needs. Next, we should establish a link between the TI deliveries and their needs. Once we do this, we can show the value of our projects. TI is a tool for a business.
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Communicating IT project value starts with speaking the language of your stakeholders. Focus on outcomes like cost savings, revenue growth, or risk reduction. Tie technical goals to business priorities, using relatable examples or case studies. Regular updates that link progress to measurable business impact can maintain alignment and trust. At Aztech, we’ve found that simplifying jargon and showcasing tangible results makes all the difference.
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To get stakeholders on board, clearly articulate how IT projects align with business goals. Highlight cost savings, efficiency improvements, and revenue growth potential. Use data-driven insights to demonstrate ROI. Engage stakeholders early and often, ensuring their input shapes project priorities. Simplify technical jargon into business-friendly terms. Showcase quick wins and progress regularly. Emphasize risk mitigation and competitive advantage. Tailor communication styles to individual stakeholder needs, focusing on benefits that matter most to them.
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Conveying the business value of IT projects to stakeholders can be challenging, but it’s all about framing the conversation in terms they care about: outcomes, ROI, and strategy alignment. Here’s my approach: 1. Speak their language: Avoid technical jargon and focus on business terms. Instead of saying, "We need to upgrade the server," frame it as, "This upgrade will prevent downtime, ensuring uninterrupted operations and protecting revenue streams." 2. Tie to business goals: Link the IT project directly to the company’s objectives. For example, "This CRM enhancement will improve customer retention by 20%, helping us achieve our annual growth target."
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