Infrastructure & Operations Playbook
12 Steps to Excellence in Managing Infrastructure & Operations
Book a Call to EnrollGet More InfoBenefits of the Program
Your Infrastructure & Operations department has the potential to be the powerhouse that drives your organization to new heights. With our targeted improvement plan, you won't just keep up - you'll redefine the game. Let's make Infrastructure & Operations the catalyst for your next big success.
A Proven Methodology to Lead I&O
serving as a consistent career guide and offering a superior and structured alternative to ad hoc advisory engagements.
A Structured Framework
with 12 actionable steps and eight key insights from best practices to manage and improve the complex moving parts within core I&O functions.
Clear Activities You Can Delegate
to your team with Guided Implementations and actionable best practices.
High-Value Advisory Engagements
that deliver tangible results and valuable experiences with higher effort to value ratios and a focus on core activities.
Customizable Initiatives with Measurable Results
that align with your organizational, departmental, and personal goals, with annual proof of improvement.
The Infrastructure & Operations Playbook
12 Steps to Excellence in Managing I&O
Our 12-step process has been proven across maturity levels, and each step comes with a matrix of methodologies, tools, and templates that’s right for you.
Structured, Actionable, 12-Step Framework
Clear activities to delegate to your team
Customizable initiatives with measurable results
Our highest-value advisory engagements
A proven path to excellence
Stakeholder Management
Embedded self-service delivery is key to keeping up with dynamic end-user requirements.
Core Operational Processes
Make the right process the one of least resistance.
I&O Workforce Development
Build on skills from adjacent areas to develop your modern I&O team.
Technology Management
Inventory assets when they enter your environment rather than after the fact.
Risk & Governance
Resilience secures an I&O leader’s job, but governance secures resilience.
Vendor Management
Prioritize vendors according to value and criticality to enable a strategic approach to vendor management.
Cloud & Core Infrastructure
Strategic planning and automation is key to effectively managing modern cloud and core infrastructure.
Disruptive Tech & Innovation
Balance suitability, value, and risk to realize value from disruptive and innovative technologies.
Organizational Value
Strategy & Roadmap
Budget & Capacity
Renewal & Reflection
Advancing I&O:
Organizational Challenges
Many organizations face the following challenges as they try to drive I&O forward with the organization:
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67%Organizations using Info-Tech’s IT M&G diagnostic rated their I&O effectiveness at only 67%
M&G Diagnostic -
45%45% of respondents believe that most or all, IT skills will need to change over the next five years.
2025 IT Tech Trends survey
And innumerable challenges...
- End user expectations change dynamically and outpace IT capabilities
- Critical processes are immature and informally managed
- Scarcity of skills & resources for modern challenges
- Technology sprawl creates unnecessary costs and risks
- Service continuity risks and immature governance risk derailing your career
- A rapidly expanding vendor ecosystem leads to a lack of control and visibility
- Hybrid and multi-cloud environments lead to complex and fragmented infrastructure
- Demands for disruptive and innovative technologies are a challenge for core stability and reliability
8 Secrets for Infrastructure & IT Operations Excellence
Understanding the eight secrets is imperative to overcoming your most prominent challenges and systematically improving IT for the future.
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How Infrastructure & Operations
Systematic Improvement Works:
Adopt the 12 Steps
- Contact your Counselor to learn more about the Infrastructure & Operations Playbook.
- Become familiar with the 8 secrets of success.
Customize Your Playbook
- Build your Infrastructure & Operations scorecard based on your personal success metrics and targets.
- Identify key contributors to the 12 monthly steps (direct reports).
- Conduct Your Annual Infrastructure & Operations Department Assessment.
- Work with your Counselor on developing your Key Initiative Plan.
Act & Delegate
- Use Info-Tech’s research and advisory services to guide you through best practices and produce the deliverables that will help you systematically improve IT performance.
- Take advantage of our diagnostics and benchmarks, Guided Implementations, workshops, and other analyst services.
- Delegate delivery activities to your direct reports where applicable.