Issue link: https://resources.esri.ca/i/1313392
A s geospatial technology evolves and adoption accelerates, strategic planning has become an imperative for organizations seeking the benefits of better location intelligence. Whether the intent is to improve business resiliency, enhance productivity or drive innovation, a geospatial strategy—a business-driven plan that defines how an organization leverages geospatial technology to achieve its business objectives—is essential for organizations looking to geo to help run, grow or transform their business. For managers tasked with developing a geospatial strategy, the prospect can feel daunting. But it doesn't have to be. With a bit of structure and focus, spatial enablement—achieved through a geospatial strategy—can be a straightforward and attainable goal. This publication is a compilation of thinking and concepts about geospatial strategy that I developed as director of management consulting at Esri Canada. The material is based on research and experience working with dozens of organizations to build and execute geospatial strategies and programs. My intention with this e-book is to synthesize a variety of lessons related to strategy and strategy development. That said, the essence of Geospatial Strategy Essentials for Managers traces three overarching themes: making a case for a geospatial strategy, the how-to of building a geospatial strategy and the importance of governance for ensuring strategy success. Part 1: Making the Case: The need for a geospatial strategy for senior decision makers is not always obvious. In Part 1, I discuss the importance of geospatial technology to modern business and why organizations need a geospatial strategy from an executive perspective. I also discuss how leading organizations are driving outsized returns with better location intelligence. Part 2: Building the Strategy: In this section, I share guidance on the finer points of building your own geospatial strategy. Specifically, I describe a simple framework for crafting a strategy that focuses on seven core building blocks of a geospatial capability. I also review a set of common strategy archetypes that you can use as a starting point for developing a strategy. Finally, I delve into some of the trickier aspects of strategy development, including finding and translating opportunities and defining your geospatial team's organizational structure. Part 3: Governing for Success: In the last section, I focus squarely on the topic of governance. Governance is a critical yet frequently overlooked aspect of executing an effective geospatial strategy. Here I discuss what geospatial governance means and provide a simple framework to understand where governance plays a role. I also offer a two-part look at implementing a governance model that fits your organization. I hope this e-book inspires you to recognize the role and importance of geospatial technology and location intelligence to your business and that it enables you to take the plunge and develop your own geospatial strategy. — Matthew Lewin 01 | GEOSPATIAL STRATEGY ESSENTIALS FOR MANAGERS MATTHEW LEWIN Foreword Matthew Lewin is the director of management consulting at Esri Canada. His focus is helping management teams optimize and transform their business through geospatial technology and location-based strategies. You may contact him by e-mail at mlewin@esri.ca.