Final answer:
The first step in the planning process is integrating the IT strategy within the overall organizational strategy, which begins with a clear and detailed problem analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in the planning process is to tie the information technology strategic plan to the organization's overall strategic plan.
This involves a thorough analysis of the problem or business area where you need to define the problem, paying attention to the needs of potential customers, identifying potential competitors and their market positions, and recognizing the constraints imposed by government regulations or technological limitations.
Further constraints such as available personnel, time, and money must be established to get a clear understanding of the scope of the project and the resources available to address the issue.
This leads to a comprehensive problem statement which is crucial as a foundation before you can even begin identifying potential IT projects, scoping out benefits, and considering constraints in a detailed manner. Strategy formulation comes next, where you plan your approach to solve the defined problem and eventually proceed to evaluating the solutions against the set criteria and constraints.