What’s the difference between a successful IT implementation and a disaster? A good plan.

To have any chance of success, you must understand what you’re trying to accomplish, what resources you have on hand, what help you might need. And that’s precisely what planning sessions are designed to uncover: The essential details describing the what and how of making it happen.

Think of any winning sports team. Yes, they need quality players, good equipment, adequate training. They also need a coaching staff with a plan.

We’ve all watched in horror as a beloved team goes down to defeat at the hands of a lesser rival because no one on our team’s coaching staff had a clue — that is, a plan — to deal with the other team’s strategy. Indeed, most of what a winning coach does is in the office, not on the field. And it happens way before the team starts playing.

The same is true for any IT project, be it cloud computing, disaster recovery, security, etc. Always start your journey with a good, solid plan. If you’re unsure about how to craft one, don’t wing it — get help from a trusted advisor.