title: The planning cycle.
abstract: Information technology planning can be described as a continuous cyclical process composed of three phases whose primary purpose is optimum allocation of scarce resources. In the assessment phase, planners assess user needs, environmental factors, business objectives, and IT infrastructure needs to develop IT projects that address needs in each of these areas. A major goal of this phase is to develop a broad IT inventory. The prioritization phase seeks to ensure optimum allocation of scarce resources by prioritizing ITprojects based on: Costs--total life cycle costs. Benefits--both quantitative and non-quantitative, including support for the organization's strategic business objectives. Risks--subjective assessments of technological and non-technological risks. Implementation requirements--time and personnel requirements to implement the system. The scheduling phase incorporates sequencing considerations, personnel availability, and budgetary constraints to produce an IT plan in which project priorities are adjusted to meet organizational realities.
authors.affiliation: Fauquier Hospital, Warrenton, VA, USA. billjohnsoncio@yahoo.com
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D003361:Cost Allocation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D003660:Decision Support Systems, Management; D006743:Hospital Bed Capacity, under 100; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006752:Hospital Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010934:Planning Techniques; D040841:Resource Allocation / Q000191:economics; D013597:Systems Analysis; D014768:Virginia