Strategic Alignment Maturity between Business and Information Technology in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian Industry has sought to adjust to the laws and acts of corporate governance and strategic management practices arising from the new national and international economic reality. One of the emerging elements is Strategic Alignment (SA). The present study has sought to identify the level of maturity and the order of importance of the criteria that promote SA between Business and Information Technology (IT), as perceived by business and IT executives. Based on the model of SA maturity from Luftman (2000), a survey was carried out among 259 executives from 72 enterprises located in industrial centers in the south of Brazil. The findings indicate that elements such as “Communication”, “Skills”, “Scope and Architecture” are of greatest importance and most promoted within firms. Though equally important, the management element “Competency/Value Measurements” was found to be less promoted, as a significant difference was observed among the respondents. It is worth noting that both the instrument and the findings of this study can contribute towards the periodical analysis of the intensity of the SA promoted by organizations, with the aim of continually enhancing the SA practiced by organizations.

KEYWORDS:

• Strategic Alignment
• Maturity Level
• Information Technology

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ângela Freitag Brodbeck

Angela Freitag Brodbeck, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Information Systems in the Department of Business Administration at the UFRGS/EA/PPGA, Brazil. She is a consultant for several multinational companies and has conducted research in strategic alignment, business process management, business intelligence. datamining techniques as well as the impact of new technologies in organizations using qualitative and interpretative research methods. She has published numerous papers and books in these areas.

Eduardo Henrique Rigoni

Eduardo Henrique Rigoni, MSc. earned his MSc. degree in business adminstration from UFRGS/EA/PPGA, Brazil. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate at UFRGS/EA/PPGA and the University of New Jersey where he is conducting research in Strategic Alignment Maturity Level.

Norberto Hoppen

Norberto Hoppen, Ph.D. is Totular Professor at UFRGS/EA/PPGA, Brazil and Dean of University UNIPAMPA. His research has focused on strategic alignment, group systems, cultural aspects of the information and decision systems and the impact of new technologies in organizations. He is author of several papers and books in these areas of study.