How to Use Information Technology Effectively to Achieve Business Objectives - Enterprise Information Systems Design, Implementation and Management: Organizational Applications - page 24

Figure 2. Model of strategic alignment: Venkatraman, Henderson

the market posture by means of long-term tech-
nological projects and technological embracing.
Service level (arrow 4): This alignment per-
spective implies the definition of the business
processes based on the strategy of the informa-
tion systems witch arise as a main trump for an
effective answer in markets constantly in change.
In face of the above mentioned the following
questions need to be answered:

The alignment may be defined as the adjust-
ment between the strategies and the business
goals with the objectives and functions of the IT.
It will bring competitive advantages and a better
organisational performance conferring an accrued
value to the business. If this is not verified it will
be very difficult for the IT to support the business
strategies.
To guarantee the alignment between the IT
and the business it is our conviction that the
alignment strategy based on the definition of
business strategy (arrow 1, Figure 2), allows to
represent the market vision of the organisation,
its position among the clients, long-term business
projects and search for competitive advantages
within the business sphere. Therefore, the focus
will be in the improvement of the organisational
infrastructures. The need to support the improve-
ment of the processes and infrastructure impels
the changes in the information systems.
The methodology and the tool that may allow
the adoption of the technology architecture that
better applies to the enterprise reality and that
permits future modifications to occur naturally

• What do we understand by alignment be-

tween business and IT?

• In the alignment model which of the per-

spectives (strategy development, techno-
logical potential, competitive potential or
service level) must be chosen to guaranty
the alignment between IT and business?

• How is it possible to maintain the align-

ment once the organisations are perma-
nently changing?

• At last which are the methodology and

the tool that allows the maintenance of the
alignment?