Aligning IT with the Business: The Age-Old Debate
The topic of IT–business alignment is a subject that has been discussed, debated, theorized, and proceduralized for decades. This being the case, why is it still a topic at all? Well, mainly because of differing beliefs about IT’s job function.
If you believe that IT is simply an internal service created to provide value to the business it serves, then alignment should be a given, because it is IT’s job to provide the products and services its organization requires. If you believe that IT is part of the business, then the concept of alignment is nonsensical because the two would have to be separate in order for alignment to occur.
The existence or nonexistence of IT–business alignment is primarily decided based on the combination of senior management’s view of IT and the personal and business relationship between the CIO and other senior executives. These two factors, more than any other, define the relationship between IT and the overall organization.
If senior management views IT as simply a required overhead function, like janitorial services, than IT will most likely be under-resourced and asked to minimize its expenditures and simply keep the lights on. If senior management conceptualizes IT as a core component of company growth and profitability, then IT will be viewed as an essential part of the business and given a seat at the decision-making table.
It’s important for IT professionals of all organization levels, from the CIO to the newest college intern, to understand the role that IT plays within their companies. This understanding can help them maximize job performance, avoid political landmines, move ahead professionally, and provide input about staying at or leaving the company.
It helps job performance by giving you insights into how to interact with your business partners. It helps you avoid political landmines by letting you know what not to do, given IT’s role within the company. This knowledge, combined with understanding how success is measured, can position you for a future promotion.
The last item mentioned, deciding to stay or leave, is based on whether your personal goals can be achieved within the constraints placed on IT by the company’s senior management. For example, if you are hoping to grow your career via an expanding IT organization and IT’s goal is only to minimize expenditures, you may need to find other employment to realize your goals. Alternatively, if your goals are aligned with IT’s direction, it helps you appreciate the value of being in the right job.
