I.T Strategic Governance Controversy

According to Craig, aligning information technology strategy with the business governance has been one of the greatest hurdles for the organizations’ governance especially for the business executives and board of governance over the last few decades (Tabach, 2013). In order to eliminate the controversy that exists between the information technology strategy and the governance, it is appropriate to align the IT strategies of the business with the appropriate information technology governance. The work will demonstrate how information technology alignment strategy for the business might be controversial with the organization information technology governance.

In order for the executive and the board of governance to work effectively for the sake of making the organization to be more effective in executing its goals and objective, it should ensure that the business information technology strategies are appropriately aligned. Information alignment strategy calls for the development of mutually sustainable cooperative relationship between the business and information technology and ensuring the established relationship benefits the two parties (Isaach, 2014). Moreover, in order to hedge the organization failure, it is of great significant for the both the information technology executive or board of governance for the business to be recognized as being fundamental in the development and execution of the appropriate information technology strategies for the business. Both the IT executives and business executives should be considered equally fundamental in the development of the information technology strategies and operations for the business.

In order for both the IT and business executives to establish accurate metrics which connect the business priorities, performance and objectives with the business strategies, it is appropriate for the two evaluate organizations:

  • Return on investment
  • Total cost of ownership
  • Revenue growth
  • Customers’ satisfaction
  • Time reduction and business process cost
  • Increase the quality of the products and services
  • Speed to the market
  • Establish appropriate relationship partner between the IT strategies and executives

In order to align the organization IT strategies to the executive it is important to optimize the process, defined and manage the processes, continuously repeat the processes, initiate the processes and ensure that there is pure IT strategies functions purely in support of the business executives (Tabach, 2013). In order to avoid business fallouts, it is mandatory for both the IT strategies and business executive to work together. By both the teams working together, the business shall be in a better position to define and relate its value, focus on the complains of the customers, ensure that the IT initiatives are consistently evaluated and develop IT strategies which recognizes executives initiatives, architecture, people development, organizational operations, business measurement and financial objectives.

The revenue growth projects, cost reduction and business enablement projects are the three portfolios which must be integrated by both the IT strategies and executives in order for the business to remain in operation and successful (Isaach, 2014). Therefore, in order for an IT organization to select the appropriate investment, each IT objective must be connect to the particular business objectives selected by the business owner who shall be responsible for evaluating the business performance and objective. In order for the business executive to establish the IT strategies which best fit the organization it is important for them to analyze both the external and internal trends and pressures within which the organization operates.

In conclusion, the controversy between the IT business strategies and the executives shall be hedged against whenever the two parties shall answer these questions:  where are we, why change, what could we do, what should we do, how we get there and did we get there. Hence, through the establishment of the realistic and practical framework for reporting and measuring the results, both the IT strategies and executives governance shall be able to work together.

References

Tabach, A. (2013).Business and IT alignment, strategic/ operating planning and portfolio investment management excellence. New York Publishers.

Isaach, N.(2014)IT Governance – developing a successful governance strategy. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press.