In continuation of our series, we will focus on the Digital Use Case Mapping process in creating a viable program roadmap for success of a Digital Transformation Initiative.
Once you know where you are and where you want to go the question arises: how do you get there? How do you actually achieve a higher maturity for a certain Digital Capability? We do this through the use of Digital Use Cases.
Digital use cases are practical scenarios that help you close the gap between where your digital capabilities are currently, and where they are needed to be within your Digital Maturity Model. Technology has a unique place in each of the six digital capabilities (Innovation Capability, Transformation Capability, IT Excellence, Effective Knowledge Worker, Customer Centricity, Operational Excellence), and the development of multiple digital use cases can help organizations improve the maturity of each of these capabilities.
Using the results of the digital maturity analysis (the collection of results from your, Digital Capabilities Assessment and your Digital Maturity Model), you should facilitate the creation of appropriate digital use cases with a team comprised of both IT and Business leadership. The goal of this leadership group is to establish a set of digital use cases that will improve or enhance the maturity of each of your six digital capabilities. As you will notice, the collaboration between IT and the Business continues from the digital capabilities assessment, making this a true collaborative effort, as opposed to something that IT will propose to the Business at a later time.
Typically, a Digital Use Case contains a description, gives information about the current situation, meaning the maturity level from where it starts, and the value proposition, meaning the targeted maturity level. In addition, the case might also describe outcome opportunities and benefits and the risks related to it.
Every company’s and industry’s digital use cases are different. It will be up to your assigned leadership team needs to define its own relevant Digital Use Cases and carefully analyze the impact of the new technology on your current digital capabilities and the value that new technology will bring to enhancing your digital maturity.
Defining the Benefits of your Digital Use Cases
In continuation of our series, we will focus on the Benefit Analysis aspect of creating a viable program roadmap for success of a Digital Transformation Initiative.
Once you have defined your Digital Use Cases, the envisioned impact of the transformation needs to be analyzed and each Digital Use Case will help you do exactly that, by illustrating why your organization needs to change, what specific changes will be beneficial, and why it needs to change in that particular way.
Understanding what can truly happen to the organization if it does not change is also a key component of process. It will define the actual case for change in of itself.
Digital Use Cases need to be classified according to their impact and the nature of their business and organizational changes. This would be tedious in its approach. Some of the potential changes will solve problems, and some will provide innovative ways of leveraging new capabilities, technologies, and or opportunities.
Your digital use cases can be strategic or operational, or a combination of both. Strategic use cases tend to be focused on innovation, to gain competitive advantage. Your workshop team should answer the question, “what might be crucial to create competitive advantage?”
Operational Use Cases tend to be focused on solving problems, such as reducing inefficiencies in order to remain competitive. Your workshop team should answer the questions, being “What might provide us with greater efficiencies, and what are the intrinsic benefits within that?”
