Do What You Do Best. Let Someone Else Do The Rest.
Applying Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to your IT decisions, you will find that your operations and infrastructure comprise the lowest level. Your absolute “musts” include a reliable Internet connection, email, security, backup, and disaster recovery. These elements are fundamental, and you cannot succeed and grow without them. Small companies need these critical areas to function just as well as their counterparts in Fortune 500 companies do. Your firewall needs to be just as secure as theirs, your privacy standards just as tight, and your understanding of legal issues just as strong.
With these fundamentals in place, you must then determine which core business functions your company needs to own and fully manage, and which procedures can be outsourced. If you produce widgets, for example, you need to own the widget producing system, but it may make good sense to outsource your billing to a company that specializes in that and has the appropriate systems already in place. Similarly, if you need custom software, it makes good sense to find a software development company that understands your needs and goals and can work with you to develop appropriate software and hardware solutions, rather than trying to adapt a one-size-fits-all off-the-shelf program. A good software design company will embrace your business vision and create the tools you need to achieve your goals.
Finally, be sure to keep your finger on the pulse of new IT developments that are applicable to your industry. IT groups and industry organizations can be excellent sources of information, as can user groups for the business systems you are using. Keeping current with what others in your field are doing in terms of IT helps as well. Your goal is always to think strategically and to stay at least a little ahead of where your company is right now technologically.
