Horizon scanning is becoming a common capability in job descriptions for architects and IT leaders. Yet in IT horizon scanning is not a well understood process and little is published in the way of best practice. How does horizon scanning fit within the IT operating model?
Horizon scanning is a method for future studies. It is about the early detection and assessment of changes in technology, process or environment which may affect the organisation. Horizon scanning originates from the domains of agriculture, environmental studies, health care, and public health. We might use horizon scanning to identify risks of pandemics and appropriate planning.
For IT horizon scanning will focus on new technologies, delivery models and operating models. Though that may be the focus for IT, as part of the business the IT team should also be scanning for business environment changes and opportunities. Horizon scanning therefore fits primarily within the IT Strategy development process within the operating model. Often this process is given to the Head of Architecture to deliver.
Horizon scanning can also be linked to innovation processes. If IT or other teams within the business are responsible for innovation idea generation, ideation and rapid prototyping. This is perhaps more common in startups who are evolving the customer offering rapidly and expanding markets.
Within IT I have not been able to identify any best practice model for horizon scanning, but lots of examples of good ad hoc approaches. It certainly is an opportunity to engage the wider IT team as the community loves future looking. Within IT Strategy work this is a great opportunity to engage the team and get buy-in to IT strategy work that is ongoing.
In my own IT Strategy work I find I need to be careful to limit the time on horizon scanning. Let’s be honest as a geek I love looking at new technologies, but the IT strategy is about wider concerns. It is necessary to balance my time. Therefore I focus horizon scanning into four areas:
- Landscape Gaps – Do we have natural gaps within our landscape or service that emerging approaches might be able to close?
- Competitor Innovation – What are the competitors and new entrant business doing?
- Emerging Technologies – What emerging technologies are catching the team’s eye?
- Emerging Methods – What new methods and processes are catching the team’s eye?
Frequently this will create a long list which I need to prioritise from. Within the IT strategy lense only the top three to six opportunities from horizon scanning are going to be included. Others may sit on our backlog as watch items to be considered when we refine the strategy.
For more on horizon scanning and the IT strategy please take a look at my IT Strategy course on Udemy.
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