"The real power of technology (such as e-commerce, telecommunications technology services or multimedia) is not that it can make the old processes work better, but that it enables organisations to break old rules and create new ways of thinking – that is, to re-engineer."

Hammer, M and J. Champey, Reengineering the Corporation: A Manifest for Corporate Revolution

Contact us and talk to us about how we can help you.

Note:

We have used the terms Internet, website and online interchangeably here - although there are subtle differences.

Website strategic plans

Having a good Internet or website strategy is vital to the success of an organisation's online presence. Just as a good business plan provides a road map for an organisation, a well researched and well devised online strategy provides vital direction for an organisation's use of the Internet.

An Internet strategy acts like a road map for a website: it provides direction for the content, look and feel, and functionality on the website.

The Internet strategy, or website strategy, needs to be flexible so that when new opportunities arise or the business direction changes, the people managing the website know how to respond: they know what new road to take.

United Focus has written Internet strategies and website plans for Australian Government departments, small businesses and not-for profit organisations.

A typical website strategy includes sections dealing with:

• Internet trends – national and international
• The role of the Internet in the organisation
• Aims and benefits of the website or intranet
• Target audiences and their needs
• Management and governance issues
• Competitor analysis
• Opportunities for the organisation - e-procurement, e-trading, exporting
• Challenges for the organisation - how ready is it to manage a website
• Budget and resource requirements
• Achievement milestones and an evaluation plan.

The approach we follow when devising Internet strategies is to:

• understand your organisation - its plans, services, products and position in the industry
• research your industry sector – challenges, opportunities and competitors
• research your current website/intranet and e-business readiness
• research what your users/clients want from you online
• interview staff and management and conduct in-house workshops
• draft a strategic plan for internal review  
• finalise and present the plan.

Benefits of strategic planning

Achieving a consistent long term return on your website and intranet investment requires more than just quick fixes, it demands strategic thinking and planning. The strategic aspects that must be thought through include:

• the role and contribution the Internet (email, website, intranet) is to have on the organisation’s goals and plans
• what new services or products can be offered that the Internet makes possible
• how might the use of the Internet, your website, or your intranet affect the way you do business and with whom – suppliers, customers, business partners
• the online trends in your industry - how might that impact on you over time
• what your competitors are doing online and how that might affect you.

So contact us and talk to us about how we can help you.

Related topics

• Understanding the Internet and the World Wide Web (95KB PDF)
• The Current State of Play - Australia and the Information Economy (link to external website)

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