If your business doesn't have a technology road map, it's probably time to form one. Ask yourself where you want to be in five years and what role technology will play in that growth. Will you use IT to manage and support your goals now, or will it be the engine that fuels your future strategy? If you have difficulty answering these questions, you may need to enlist an IT advisor, who can help you identify specific technologies and analyze the cost/benefit potential of IT investments. Almost half of all IT initiatives fail due to a lack of planning. That means that all significant IT investments need to work in tandem with your longer-term business goals.

For more on IT investment, be sure to read Who Should Manage Your Company’s IT Investment?