What Does the IT Department Really Do?

It is IT Planning season.  Today's exercise is to explain to those granting next year's budget dollar the services that are provided by my IT department, in a way that makes sense to the reader.  Let me share how I do it.

(Repost) What would you pay for bacon and eggs?

How much would you pay for this plate of bacon and eggs? (or substitute your favourite breakfast if you choose).  I've paid anywhere from $2.99 to $15.00 for a breakfast that looks pretty much the same as the picture above.  What made the $15.00 eggs worth that much?  It certainly couldn't be the eggs themselves, since for the most part, there is not much differentiation in eggs.  So what made the difference?  Why would I willingly pay $15.00 for something I can get for $2.99?

It was everything that came with the food... the ambiance (and the cost of keeping up the premises), the skill of the cooks, the location of the restaurant, the people I was eating breakfast with,  and most importantly, the service I received.  The eggs themselves were not the sole measurement of value, but rather the whole experience of the breakfast.  The total package was worth $15.00 to me.
If all I wanted were eggs, then I could head to the greasy spoon to get my $2.99 fix.