Prose was recently featured in CIO Grid and Tech Magazine, where Justin Belmont, CEO & Founder, shared expert advice on evaluating IT department performance and making thoughtful, strategic acquisition decisions. Whether you're optimizing operations or considering your next big move, these tips offer clear guidance to drive results.
Here’s what Justin had to say:
Use the right KPIs to measure and improve IT department performance
Topic: Assess system reliability index
Quote: "One of the best KPIs for measuring IT effectiveness is mean time to resolution (MTTR). If issues are dragging on forever, productivity tanks and frustration skyrockets. We track MTTR by logging every ticket, measuring how long it takes to fix, and spotting trends in recurring problems. If we see certain issues keep popping up, that's a sign we need better training, stronger automation, or upgraded infrastructure. If response times are lagging, we look at staffing gaps or workflow bottlenecks. The goal isn't just to put out fires faster—it's to prevent them from happening in the first place."
Read more in the full article here.
Evaluate acquisition offers beyond the money by considering long-term alignment and value
Topic: Assess the deal's alignment with your goals
Quote: "If you're considering an acquisition offer, don't just look at the cash—look at what you're giving up. You're not just selling a product; you're selling your vision, your team, and your culture. Key factors to weigh: What's the long-term impact on your team and customers? Will they have the resources to scale or just change things to fit their model? Also, the terms of the deal matter—don't settle for a quick payout if it compromises your brand or the people who helped you build it. In the end, it's about finding a partner who shares your vision and can help your business grow, not just cashing out."
Read more in the full article here.
Why smart KPIs and strategic thinking matter
Improving operational efficiency and making sound strategic decisions both start with asking the right questions. In both IT performance management and acquisition planning, success depends on clarity, context, and alignment with broader business goals, not just speed or cost alone.
- Smart KPIs act as your compass. They help you evaluate what’s working, where resources are underutilized, and which systems or teams are driving—or hindering—performance. For IT departments, this might mean tracking uptime, incident resolution time, system scalability, or end-user satisfaction. But beyond metrics alone, the real value comes from knowing how each KPI maps back to core objectives like productivity, customer experience, or innovation enablement.
- Strategic thinking adds the “why” to the “what.” It’s what turns data into insight and insight into action. Whether you're streamlining internal workflows or considering an acquisition, you need to move beyond surface-level evaluations. What synergies does this new opportunity bring? Does it align with your growth strategy? Are your internal systems equipped to scale with the change, or will they break under pressure?
- Experts agree that successful leaders look at performance and opportunity holistically, not in silos. That means understanding how IT investments impact business agility, how cross-functional teams will integrate post-acquisition, and how long-term value compares to short-term gains.
By being proactive, thoughtful, and goal-aligned, companies can turn KPIs into roadmaps and acquisitions into accelerators. It's about doing better, with clarity and confidence, not just doing more.
Bonus feature: Think long-term, act with intention
The most successful companies don’t just measure performance; they learn from it. Every KPI, benchmark, and operational review is an opportunity to refine, not just to report. And when the stakes are high, like during an acquisition or a major transformation, it’s easy to get caught up in short-term gains. But the real advantage lies in slowing down enough to make intentional, future-focused decisions.
- Taking time to align strategic moves with your long-term vision helps ensure you’re not just reacting to trends or pressures but building a resilient foundation. Whether that means preserving cultural integrity during a merger or scaling infrastructure to support growth, thoughtful leadership can prevent costly missteps.
At the intersection of metrics and mindset is where sustainable success lives. A data-informed, values-led approach doesn’t just safeguard what you’ve built, it positions you to lead with clarity and confidence, well into the future.
Looking to grow smarter?
Prose helps forward-thinking businesses optimize performance and plan strategically for the future. Let’s talk about how we can support your goals at prosemedia.com.
