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Business-IT
alignment is a dynamic state in which a business organization
is able to use information technology (IT) effectively to achieve business
objectives - typically improved financial performance or marketplace
competitiveness. Some definitions focus more on outcomes (the ability of IT to
produce business value) than means (the harmony between IT and business
decision-makers within the organizations).
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Business-IT alignment is the
correspondence between the business objectives and the Information Technology
(IT) requirements of an enterprise. These two factors often seem to contradict,
but many economic and technical experts agree that alignment between them,
maintained over time, is crucial to the success of an enterprise.
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Business-IT alignment involves
optimizing communication between executives who make the business decisions and
IT managers who oversee the technical operations. The implementation of
flexible business plans and IT architectures, as well as effective cost
allocation, are critical components of any business-IT alignment effort.
Technical department managers can formulate and submit proposals that can be
tailored to ensure the optimum return on investment (ROI). Business executives
can attend IT department meetings and seminars to improve their understanding
of the technical capabilities and limitations of the enterprise.
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This alignment is in contrast to what is
often experienced in Kenyan organizations: IT and business professionals unable
to bridge the gap between themselves because of differences in objectives,
culture, and incentives and a mutual ignorance for the other group's body of
knowledge. This rift generally results in expensive IT systems that do not
provide adequate return on investment. For this reason, the search for Business
/ IT Alignment is closely associated with attempts to improve the business
value of IT investments.
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This is justified by lack of IT
leadership in Kenyan organizations.
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Ignorance by managers and head of
departments.
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Many Kenyan IT service provider
companies are technology driven and therefore do not consider the business
needs of their clients can not translate
business needs into technology solutions.
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Cultural barriers, Kenyan companies view
IT as an expense center than profit center.
METHODS
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The research covered two Kenyan
companies , talking to some of the employees identify randomly.
importance
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Companies should adopt business-IT
alignment because of the following reasons;
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Reducing complexity
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Helping small and mid-sized
businesses become more competitive
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Increasing the agility of
organizations
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Boost customer satisfaction
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Making the workplace a more
collaborative environment
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Delivering IT systems on-time and
within business expectations
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