Book excerpt: Where do you begin when you need to create a transformative IT Strategy? This book steps you through all the necessary considerations for evaluating your current state and planning for a high-performing future state. IT STRATEGY features interviews with over one dozen CIOs and IT executives. It walks readers through the process from a blank whiteboard to a comprehensive IT Strategy. Created to be a broad-reaching reference manual, IT STRATEGY introduces a thought-provoking 3-D framework to empower any leader to develop a sound IT Strategy. The author presents technical and non-technical topics to enable readers to develop a roadmap to their desired future state. A spotlight is focused on such core topics as data, technology, security, customer experience, IT governance, organizational change management, culture and talent management. To ensure executives buy into your strategy, the book repeatedly reminds readers to align IT strategic planning to foundational business strategic planning and central business key performance measures. Guidelines for creating a compelling, winning executive presentation round out the book's completeness. Jim Maholic is an award-winning author with over 25 years as an IT strategist. He has consulted with many of the largest and most prestigious companies in North and South America. His career includes two stints as a CIO and he has held leadership positions with global consulting and technology firms.