Computer based systems have been used by power
utilities for slightly more than three decades now.
During the first two decades, emphasize was on
management of the individual IT projects, and on
capabilities of the individual systems. During the latest
decade, there has been an improved focus on strategic
IT management. This has, for example, led to that most
utilities have developed IT strategies, and focused on
coordination of IT investments in a more long term
perspective than the individual IT projects. However,
not all of these efforts have been successful. Some of
them have not pointed in the right direction, and some
of them have not had any real impact on the operative
IT related work. Therefore, the authors have identified
a need for a clear view of what really to be
accomplished by strategic IT management.