Unless any potential ideas for improvement are prioritised and aligned with the business objectives, then IT departments can be faced with a deluge of disparate projects, vying for their attention.

This first stage is critical to ensure, right from the outset, that the IT department's time and resources are used in the most effective way.

By establishing first that a project idea is sound, it can then be prioritised against a timeline which aligns with the organisation's overall roadmap.

Preparation should be conducted along a structured methodology that comprises three core components: