3 Steps to Better IT-Business Alignment. ✓ How to build organization? ✓ Achieved first & irreducible step in IT-business alignment ✓ Priority Setting Process.
IT Business Alignment
According to Control Objectives for Information and related Technology (COBIT), an IT governance framework, strategic alignment focuses on ensuring the linkage of business and IT plans; on defining, maintaining and validating the IT value proposition; and on aligning IT operations with enterprise operations. While COBIT provides the definition of what alignment is all about, I will help explain how you actually get there in the proverbial “real world.” There are three stages of alignment: Order taking, Priority setting, and Strategy setting. If you get these right, you will be aligned with your business and be able to answer a resounding “YES, I HAVE ALIGNMENT” in the next CIO survey you receive on the topic.
Steps to IT Business Alignment
1. Order Taking
2. Priority Setting
3. Strategy Setting
Getting a seat at the steering committee table is not always easy as IT still has a perception problem in many organizations. IT has to get out from underneath the oppressive rock of being viewed as simply a service provider and become viewed as a true business partner. This is accomplished by demonstrating success with aligning and delivering upon the priorities described earlier. Remember, trust is earned – it’s a privilege, not an entitlement. Once your CEO sees that you can be counted on to deliver value consistent with the company’s core vision, you will begin to earn your rightful seat at the table to help create the organizational strategies. In my next post, I will share how you can communicate and market successes to build a brand for your IT organization and continue to earn the well deserved trust!
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