ICT strategist
Description
The ICT strategist which can also be called a strategic business planner is responsible for ensuring that there are plans in place for an organisation's future course. Strategic planning is the formal consideration of an organisation's future course.
The ICT strategist is responsible for knowing where the organisation stands (What do we do?), determining where the organisation is going, and how it will get there. The resulting document is called the strategic plan.
They are responsible for setting strategic objectives and defining a roadmap of ways to achieve those objectives. They are also responsible for ensuring that the strategies are embedded within the business operational plans and performance management plans.
The ICT strategist will work closely with other ICT staff such as the chief information officer, chief technology officer and ICT manager.
An ICT strategist exhibits a combination of capabilities from the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) and from the Leadership competencies for Queensland.
SFIA profile
Within the SFIA profile, the strategic business planner has level 5/6 capabilities, i.e. initiates and influences the skills outlined below.
Refer to the framework for descriptions of the seven levels of responsibility and accountability.
| SFIA skill code | SFIA skill level of responsibility | SFIA skills level descriptor |
|---|---|---|---|
Consultancy | CNSL | 5 | Takes full responsibility for understanding client requirements including data collection, analysis and resolving issues. Manages the scope and delivery of consultancy engagements to meet agreed objectives. Identifies, evaluates and recommends options. Collaborates with, and facilitates, stakeholder groups, as part of formal or informal consultancy agreements. Seeks to fully address client needs and implements solutions if required. Enhances the capabilities and effectiveness of clients by ensuring proposed solutions are fully understood and appropriately exploited. |
Formal research | RSCH | 5 | Agrees research goals and methods and performs projects to generate original ideas. Attracts and manages external research funding. Maintains a strong external network within own area of specialism. Provides advice on performing research. Selects and adapts data collection tools and techniques. Develops, reviews and constructively criticises the research and ideas of others. Shares demonstrations of research findings. Takes part in professional activities outside own employing organisation. Presents papers at significant conferences, writes articles for specialist journals and presents reports to key stakeholders. |
Innovation management | INOV | 6 | Obtains organisational commitment to innovation. Develops organisational capabilities to drive innovation. Leads and plans the development of innovation capabilities and implementation of innovation processes, tools and frameworks. Leads the communication and an open flow of creative ideas between interested parties and the set-up of innovation networks and communities. |
Emerging technology monitoring | EMRG | 5 | Monitors the external environment to gather intelligence on emerging technologies. Assesses and documents the impacts, threats and opportunities to the organisation. Creates reports and technology roadmaps and shares knowledge and insights with others. |
SFIA skillLeadership skills
Leadership competencies for Queensland describes what highly effective, everyday leadership looks like in the sector. In simple, action-oriented language, it provides a common understanding of the foundations for success across all roles. The profile describes three performance dimensions (vision, results and accountability) and 11 leadership competencies required against five leadership streams.
Leadership streams are not connected to a level or classification, but rather reflect the balance between leadership and technical skills required of an individual. Individuals can consider the value proposition of roles rather than the traditional lens of hierarchical structures or classification levels. The five leadership streams are:
- Individual contributor (Leads self and does not supervise others)
- Team leader (leads a team and typically reports to a program leader)
- Program leader (leads team leaders and/or multiple areas of work)
- Executive (leads program leaders or other executives)
- Chief executive (leads the organisation).
When developing a role description, identify the role type and then focus on the most important attributes and create a balance between SFIA skills and leadership skills.
Entry points
Degree level qualifications in business or information technology are essential for the role of a strategist.