Here's how you can mitigate the potential risks of poor decision making in IT services.

Working across as both SI & client to large IT service deals across geographies, can vouch that mitigating potential risks of poor decision making in IT services requires combination of – 1) Establishing a very clear & tailor-ended governance & contractual framework (in case of internal delivery teams - ensuring right delivery stakeholders who may demonstrate ownership of delivery risks & reporting); 2) Data-driven decision making (through clear & quantifiable SLAs - in case of internal teams - OLAs); 3) Implementing & reporting on applicable ITIL processes, especially adhering to continual Improvement process. Now a days, a lot of companies implement a SIAM model that can demonstrate each of the above.

Do plan before doing anything. There is a rule that every minute spent in planning saves ten minutes in execution and getting the Job DONE.

Development from the first day means you are in risk already. Plan, analysis, possible outcomes gives us a series of feedback you can choose according to your operations to avoid risks. Paying more time on analysis can minimise risk as well as repetative tasks.

Addressing potential risks in IT service decisions involves thorough analysis and foresight, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. By fostering a culture of continuous evaluation and leveraging robust data analytics, organizations can proactively identify vulnerabilities before they escalate, ultimately safeguarding operational integrity and enhancing overall efficiency.

Stakeholder input is often overlooked, but it is one of the most important steps. It not only assures buy-in but also ensures that the IT service is addressing a real need and that the specifications are correct. You can avoid the pitfall of having numerous IT services that are ineffective and completely ignored by users.

By actively involving stakeholders, you understand the potential implications and benefits of IT decisions. Diverse input helps identify potential issues early and ensures that the technology is user-friendly and effective in real-world scenarios. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership and acceptance among users and enhances the likelihood of successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the IT services.

By implementing such a framework, you create a standardized process that everyone in the organization can follow, which enhances accountability and reduces ambiguity. It also facilitates better communication and understanding among team members, as everyone knows the decision-making process and their respective responsibilities. This systematic approach helps make well-informed decisions that align with long-term business goals and objectives, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable IT service management.

By continuously collecting and analyzing feedback, you can measure your IT implementations' success and identify areas for improvement. This process helps make data-driven adjustments and refinements, ensuring that the IT services meet user needs and business objectives. Additionally, these insights can inform future decisions and strategies, enabling continuous improvement and adaptation in your IT service management.

Be prepared to stop projects. People find it hard to stop something once it is running, even if it is clear this it is not going in the right way, or is not going to bring the benefits anticipated/desired - beware the sunk cost fallacy.

Does your organization capture lessons learned or post mortems? Can the results or lessons learned help prime your risk identification and analyses? Do you scan the environment? What have others done (or failed to do) that you can learn from? I remember being laughed out of a room by a bunch of really smart service researchers once because the punch line to my example - a true debacle was taken directly from the vendor's response in court - You can't sue us for breach of contract, because we don't have a contract. If there's no contract and no SLA, how can you be held accountable?

Victoria - Project managers can use artificial intelligence to look at the result of similar projects. Thanks for the useful information Capers Jones

You need a vision. Stay focused on what will be in the next 5 to 10 years based on what type of IT service you are going to provide. Tie it with your current plan of action and check on your progress. Be ready for any progressive or an immediate change. Never be hesitate to take the right step after a risk assessment. Expenses paid before a breach is far less. Try avoiding costly mistakes. Learn continually and build a better place on an empathetic ground. End of the day it's your pal. Trust me what so ever be the industry success depends on making right decisions and this can be an output if you really have an open community and to build that you need a great culture. Fix your technical issues fist and try to fix your culture early.

Start by evaluating your current systems and processes to pinpoint risks, involving key stakeholders for diverse insights. Craft a strategic plan aligned with business goals, supported by data-driven analysis. Prioritize initiatives based on impact and feasibility, and establish KPIs to monitor progress. Regularly update your strategy to adapt to new risks and opportunities. This method emphasizes informed, flexible decision-making to minimize risks and enhance success.