Crafting a Powerful Vision to Guide Cloud Migrations
A successful cloud migration begins with a well-defined vision of the desired outcomes and alignment to the organization’s strategic goals. At Tidal, we often work with customers to develop vision statements and success metrics that provide a North Star to guide the migration journey.
Vision statements help balance tactical project objectives with the customer’s broader mission. For example, when working with Statistics Canada on their Modernization Initiative with a vision of “fostering a culture of innovation”, we aimed to improve IT agility while ensuring security and compliance needs were met.
By starting with the end in mind, we can navigate decision points with confidence throughout the transformation.
If no formal vision has been set prior to our customer using Tidal, we work closely with stakeholders to imagine the future state. Recently, when onboarding a new customer, no clear vision statement existed. To jumpstart the process, we drafted a proposed vision and sample remarks for the CIO to deliver to their team. This draft outlined migration goals like optimized TCO, improved resiliency, and enhanced service delivery.
Regardless of whether we build on existing vision documents or work with the customer to create new ones, a guiding vision aligned to business outcomes is essential. It allows us to maintain focus on the big picture while tackling the tactical details of migration execution.
With a vision in hand, balancing gains and risks becomes much easier. At Tidal, we love partnering with customers to craft powerful visions that unlock migration excellence.
Here’s some guidance for creating your cloud migration vision statement using the SMART framework.
A SMART Vision for Cloud Migrations
Specific (S)
Leave no room for ambiguity. The vision statement should outline the precise goals and objectives of cloud migration. Avoid vague language and ensure that every stakeholder understands the project’s focus and direction.
Measurable (M)
Include tangible metrics that allow the organization to gauge progress and success. Define key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with the migration’s goals. Whether it’s reducing infrastructure costs, increasing system performance, or enhancing security, quantifiable metrics provide a benchmark to track achievements and identify areas for improvement.
Achievable (A)
Avoid setting overly ambitious goals that could lead to disappointment or burnout. Consider the available budget, timeline, and expertise when formulating the vision. A well-grounded vision increases the chances of successful execution.
Relevant (R)
Does the vision statement align with the organization’s overall strategic objectives? Ensure that the cloud migration’s goals contribute to the organization’s long-term vision and mission. A relevant vision statement ensures that cloud migration is an integral part of the organization’s growth and success.
Time-Bound (T)
Set a clear timeframe for achieving the vision. Time-bound objectives create a sense of urgency and accountability, motivating teams to work efficiently towards the migration’s successful completion.
A well-crafted vision statement for a mass cloud migration project might look like this:
Our vision is to seamlessly migrate 80% of our critical applications and services to the AWS cloud platform within the next 18 months. By achieving this migration, we aim to reduce infrastructure costs by 30%, improve application performance by 25%, and enhance security measures to ensure compliance with industry standards. This migration aligns with our strategic goal of becoming a technology-driven organization, empowering us to deliver exceptional customer experiences, achieve operational excellence, and drive innovation across all business units.
A Vision Board for Cloud Migrations
Take it a step further by visualizing the vision statement using software like Tidal Accelerator to enhance the project’s planning and execution. The interactive dashboard allows stakeholders to engage with key elements, monitor progress, and make informed decisions in real-time. It fosters collaboration, aligns business goals with technical implementation, and ensures the vision remains relevant throughout the project’s lifecycle.
