Chapter 29 - Down the Road

Abstract

After the enterprise information management (EIM) program is up and running, there will be need for some changes and adjustments, as will feedback from EIM team or a change management team, to ensure value, manage costs, and adjust budgets. This chapter discusses the approach to these changes down the road. Scheduling normal refreshing of the Road Map, and accompanying Sustaining Requirements, is required to maintain the EIM program energy. A normal planned visitation of the EIM strategy, without a change in business environment, means at minimum the EIM team needs to consider the Road Map from three major perspectives: Business Alignment, Sustaining Requirements, and Architecture Element changes. At regular intervals (hopefully annually) or as required, the EIM team will get the go ahead to refresh the Road Map. The EIM team should be receiving feedback and metrics on program effectiveness. Business Alignment review is very important, as budget changes and Road Map priorities may be implied. The process to do this is no different than the initial process of aligning EIM to the business, just shorter. Often, business directions become manifest in annual lists of strategic projects or approved initiatives. The EIM team needs to review these as closely as broad announcements of direction and strategy.