For firms that have grown to be larger than small businesses but aren't yet large or Fortune 1000 businesses, getting access to the right information is important for CIOs who craft and implement IT strategy or for senior operating executives who provide strategic direction and are responsible for the firm's financial success. The rise of technology use has complicated the development of effective processes and measurement. This white paper present's IDC's framework for implementing operational excellence (op ex) and reviews the successful steps to an effective ex op implementation - internal assessment, competitive benchmarking and resource prioritization and acquisition.