The second step in designing a high-performance IT strategy and its IT-strategy-on-a-page companion is to do your homework. First, find out if your IT organization has ever had an IT strategy and understand what worked and what didn’t. Then, learn about your organization’s business strategy and strategic objectives. The IT strategy must be based on your enterprise’s business strategy. Once you understand the overall corporate strategy, take time to understand your stakeholders’ goals, objectives, plans, and challenges by putting yourself in their shoes.