Antecedents and outcomes of strategic IS alignment: an empirical investigation (original) (raw)
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This study utilizes a mixed method approach to examine the relationship between IS/Business alignment practices and organizational choice of IS/business alignment strategy. To this end, the significance of six maturity factors of IS/Business alignment – governance, partnership, scope and architecture, communication, value, and skills – from the Strategic Alignment Maturity model are examined against three alignment strategies (independent, sequential, and synchronous) adopted by different organizations. Governance and partnership were found to be the most significant factors towards the evolutive process of IS/business alignment regardless of the alignment strategy. Moreover, our data shows that organizations that are most mature in partnership have a higher tendency to implement sequential integration strategy (IS strategy formulation follows and supports business strategy formulation) and not synchronous – where IS strategy formulation and business strategy formulation are done simultaneously. Follow-up group discussions with senior managers were also conducted in an attempt to identify the top management practices that advance the IS/business alignment process. The discussions revealed three management practices that considerably contribute to the process of aligning IS and business strategies: (1) the formalization of a program management process, (2) the improvement of support for hierarchies of authority, and (3) the integration of collaboration values. Those findings are discussed and future avenues of research are offered.
2014
The dynamic nature of IS alignment has been recognised in literature, nevertheless most empirical studies still focus on the relationships between business and IS at strategic level. Building on previously identified IS alignment factors (IT governance, IT value, communication, partnership, scope and architecture, human resources skills) this study incorporates an empirical investigation in a large insurance organisation that examines the relationships between business and IS across different organisational levels. By measuring the level of IS alignment of five strategic projects the impact of the factors affecting IS alignment is analysed. As previously reported IT governance was found to be the most relevant factor when high levels of IS alignment are obtained. However, by examining the variations of IS alignment for each project common areas of low IS alignment were identified: understanding of IT by business, balance metrics, budgetary control and share goals, risk and rewards. ...
Strategic Information Systems Alignment: Alignment of IS/IT with Business Strategy
Using information systems effectively requires an understanding of the organisation, management, and the technology shaping the systems. All information systems can be described as organisational and management solutions to challenges posed by the environment. The advances in information systems have affect on our day-to day lives . As the technology is evolving immensely so are the opportunities in a healthy way to prepare the organisation in the competitive advantage environment In order to manage the IS/IT based systems, it is important to have an appropriate strategy that defines the systems and provide means to manage them. Strategic Information Systems Alignment (SISA) is an effective way of developing and maintaining the IS/IT systems that support the business operations. Alignment of the IS/IT plans and the business plans is essential for improved business performance, this research looks at the key features of SISA in the changing business circumstances in Saudi Arabia.
Information Technology & People, 2020
PurposeThis study intends to reveal how to manage the dynamic process of information technology business (IT-business) strategic alignment; managing this alignment is an unknown yet critical issue that must be addressed by any firm trying to unleash the business value of their IT investments.Design/methodology/approachThis study presents our case study of a healthcare organization after healthcare information systems (HIS) implementation and investigates the strategic alignment between the implemented HIS and the organizational strategy from a dynamic perspective.FindingsTwo different patterns of alignment (i.e. an IT-strategy–driven pattern and a business-strategy–driven pattern) are identified, and a process model of the IT-business strategic alignment is developed. Moreover, this study focuses on the social dimension of strategic alignment and examines the role of this dimension, which is critical and fundamental with respect to other dimensions, in achieving strategic alignment....