An overview of the Innovation Value Institutes CIP methodology for the adoption and deployment of IT Capability Maturity Framework (IT-CMF) . IT enabled transformation and improvement through capability building

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Capability Improvement Program (CIP) is a methodology
for effective deployment and benefits realisation using IT-
CMF for your IT enabled transformations & improvements
1. Why do organisations need to
improve their IT capability?
IT has become a core capability and increasingly
defines a company’s ability to compete in today’s
competitive environment. It is no longer sufficient to
simply have good products and services; nowadays
organisations must also sense and respond to new
and existing opportunities and threats. To achieve
this, an understanding of existing and required IT
capabilities is vital because IT capabilities will form
the basis of the organisations advantage. The
Capability Improvement Process (CIP) has been
developed as a management tool to help
organisations leverage IT-CMF to identify, assess
manage and improve its core IT capabilities for
improved business value. Understanding the maturity
of the various IT capabilities enables decisions to be
made on where to invest important or critical
resources based on the company’s current and future
strategic objectives whether they be transformation
or continuous improvement related.
2. Why is CIP important to users of
IT-CMF?
IT-CMF is an extensive and sophisticated maturity
framework. It enables users measure the maturity of
their IT capabilities in order that they can focus on
building and improving those priority capabilities that
will enable the target goals and performance levels to
be achieved for the organisation. IT-CMF consists of:
 An extensive body of knowledge
 3 Levels of Maturity Assessments
 Training and education
However every organisation is different, their goals
and objectives, their business & industry, their
structures and histories, their current context. The
starting point and route for their capability
improvement journeys will differ. CIP was designed
and developed to plan, monitor and complete your
journey in unfamiliar territory. Think of it as the GPS
for transformation and improvement.
The 4 key phases of CIP are the major stages of the
journey highlighted on an organisations CIP
roadmap.
Discover: Preparing for the journey: Assessing the
current situation and defining the problem and/or
opportunity and the target organisation outcomes
and the related capabilities.
Design: Planning the route and means: Design of
CIP program, how IT-CMF will be used, focus and
priorities, teams and target capabilities for
improvement along with success measurements.
Execute: managing and completing this current
journey: Forming improvement teams, completing
capability improvements and measuring operational
and strategic outcomes, adjusting and adapting.
Embed: Updating the maps, guides and means for
future journeys: Operationalising the changes and
improvements, embedding in culture, continuous
review and assessment.
Capability Improvement
Program

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3. How does CIP work?
Each of the four key phases of CIP breaks down into
a series of activities and related tasks with expected
outcomes and specific deliverables.
The phases, activities and tasks are supported by a
range of templates, tools, eLearning modules and
guides. These are designed to enable the CIP leaders
and their team participants to progress through their
CIP & use of IT-CMF on a step by step basis.
4. How does it all hang together?
Purple is IT-CMF, Red is CIP
When we look at the model overall CIP is the
Capability Management process, IT-CMF is the
operational capability change process, and People,
Resources & Practices are the components of
capability we change and improve.
5. What support is available to
enable the adoption of CIP & IT-
CMF ?
IVI & IVI Partner Organisations (many who also
contribute to R & D as members of the IVI
consortium) have a range of Solutions, Supports &
Services to enable your organisation design and
implement its transformation and/or improvement
program. For further information email ivi@nuim.ie.
Core Services available relating to capability building
& improvement include:-
 CIP Strategy Services
 CIP Mobilisation Services
 CIP Assessment Services
 CIP Execution Review Services
 CIP & IT-CMF Training
6. How do I get started with CIP &
IT-CMF?
There are several starting points you can consider:
 Talk to an IVI or Partner Advisor
 Schedule a strategy workshop
 Read the book “Title”
7. Further information
Please contact IVI at ivi@nuim.ie or +353 1
7086931.
The Innovation Value Institute (IVI) is an Irish
government sponsored technology centre based in
Maynooth University, Ireland with a membership of
hundreds of blue chip organisations.

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