If you’ve taken our IT Maturity self-assessment, you have a clear idea of whether your IT Maturity level is low, medium, or high. But knowing where you are on the scale isn’t enough to help you reach the next level. Additionally, you might disagree with your assessment or wonder exactly what it means for your company. For that reason, we’ve put together a list detailing how these levels differ and how your company can move from one level to the next.
Here are several markers of the different IT Maturity levels and tips for reaching higher IT Maturity:
The Signs of Low IT Maturity
If your company has a low IT Maturity level, it might mean you’re a newer business or that you’ve recently undergone some big changes. It might also mean that your company isn’t aligned in its goals or understanding of its needs. Maybe your company doesn’t value IT or doesn’t have the executive buy-in to make important changes. Regardless, the first step to improving your maturity is to understand which of these issues are at play and take steps to address them.
How to Reach a Medium IT Maturity Level
If you want to increase your maturity, here are some questions that might help you. Once you answer these questions, you’ll be able to identify what technology your company needs and what it can do without. Additionally, you’ll have a better idea of how technology can help your company grow as opposed to simply allow it to function. And once you start viewing technology through a growth mindset, you’re well on your way to growing yourself.
The Signs of Medium IT Maturity
A company with medium IT Maturity is taking positive steps toward valuing, understanding, and utilizing its IT. However, certain areas may be less technologically developed, or the use and valuation of IT might not be consistent from day-to-day. It’s also possible that your company views its IT problems as “fixed,” so it stops trying to improve itself. And once it stops trying to improve them, it’ll actually start sliding back.
How to Reach a High IT Maturity Level
Now that you have the basics of IT Maturity in place, you’re ready to take the next steps. And one of those main steps is continuing to do what you’re already doing well. Through consistency, diligence, and awareness, you’ll have the IT behaviors in place to encourage long-lasting maturity, which in turn equals longevity for your company.
The Signs of High IT Maturity
Companies with high IT Maturity levels are constantly reevaluating and strengthening their IT practices and implementation. They understand that IT Maturity is a holistic, continuously evolving concept, and they’re eager to learn more about IT best practices and uses. These companies view themselves as IT learners and educators simultaneously, and their education never ends; it simply matures itself as the company learns of new automation tools, reconfigures its business continuity plan, etc.
How to Maintain your IT Maturity Level and Continue Growing
If your company has a high IT Maturity level, great! But that doesn’t mean you can slow down. Fortunately, it also doesn’t mean that you have to keep spending a ton of money or buying the latest tech just because it’s there. Instead, be aware of what you need and where you want to go. Make your goals part of your strategic plan and work with an MSP to help you meet those goals. And most importantly, never consider your IT Maturity journey over; each step takes you to an additional step, and every step is another chance for growth.
