Most people would agree that the purpose of an Information Technology department is to serve current business needs as well as to advance long-term strategic goals. Unfortunately, this isn't always clear, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes communication is poor. Often no one has ever given much thought to what it takes, technically speaking, to serve business needs. Many networks appear to have sprouted like mushrooms after a rain, without the benefit of anything resembling an overall vision. Changing the situation is complicated by a number of factors:
This last item is virtually universal. However, if these factors plague your organization, it's time to start struggling against the status quo. The situation can't and won't change overnight, but a carefully thought-out plan with clear priorities can do a great deal to move things forward.