{"id":10469,"date":"2016-08-30T10:55:35","date_gmt":"2016-08-30T15:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/?p=10469"},"modified":"2023-03-13T16:16:03","modified_gmt":"2023-03-13T21:16:03","slug":"5-tips-to-improve-itbusiness-alignment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/5-tips-to-improve-itbusiness-alignment\/","title":{"rendered":"5 tips to improve IT\/business alignment"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Education\"Summary: Business and IT leaders have talked about the need for IT\/business alignment for well over a decade. They all want the benefits that successful alignment brings, like improved business efficiency, reduced costs, increased agility, etc… Who wouldn\u2019t want that? Yet, despite understanding the importance of IT\/business alignment…it\u2019s still an issue in many companies. In this article, we explore a few ways to improve your IT\/business alignment.<\/em><\/span>
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For over a decade now, the \u201cIT\/business alignment\u201d concept has been a top priority for business leaders…and with good reason. Technology impacts your business more today than ever in the past. You absolutely need your IT department aligned with business objectives.<\/p>\n

After all of these years, you\u2019d think most businesses have achieved this alignment…right? Not so fast.<\/p>\n

The fact is, IT\/business alignment still isn\u2019t happening. Despite the push towards alignment over the past decade, most business still struggle in this area. A recent study<\/span> reports that, \u201cjust 11% of IT leaders see themselves as \u201ctruly part of the business,\u201d despite the fact that IT is now a primary driver of revenue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

An Inc.com article<\/span> on the topic sums up the problem nicely, and shares some surprising statistics: \u201cShockingly, alignment is a competency that few companies master. Research shows that nine out of ten companies fail to execute their strategic vision and that 95 percent of employees, on average, are unaware of or do not understand their company’s strategy. To say that alignment is rare is an understatement. Indeed, it is a defining element of successful companies.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s recap: In this technology-driven world, IT\/business alignment is more important than ever. However, most businesses still struggle in this area. Why? What can you do to address this issue?<\/p>\n

Today, let\u2019s explore that topic. Here are 5 tips to improve IT\/business alignment.<\/p>\n

1. Define your goals<\/h3>\n
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One major reason businesses don\u2019t achieve alignment: They don\u2019t agree on the target.<\/p>\n

Oftentimes, the term \u201cIT\/business alignment\u201d is not properly defined. Or, different people in your organization hold different definitions.<\/p>\n

The first step towards alignment is agreeing on a common definition and goal. Both the business and IT leaders must aim for the same target. For instance, this means asking questions like:<\/p>\n

In what ways are the business and IT department \u201cnot aligned?\u201d<\/p>\n

What will IT\/business alignment look like in our organization?<\/p>\n

The purpose here is defining your target. Once all parties can agree on a common outcome, the process gets a lot simpler. This may sound basic, but you\u2019d be surprised at how often this step gets ignored.<\/p>\n

2. Get the right people in charge<\/h3>\n

This is one of the biggest challenges for an IT department. More often than not, the IT leader falls into one of two categories:<\/p>\n