Linking Processes to Goals for IS/IT-Business Alignment

This paper describes a research project which intends to improve the business-IS/IT alignment of organisations using an innovative new method. The Targeting Method which guides strategy formulation irrespective of organisational structure or strategic planning process utilises a visual cause and effect strategic map which enhances communication, change management and knowledge sharing. Currently organisations achieve strategic IT alignment by passing through 3 levels of consciousness: awareness, integration, and alignment. Alignment takes the integration stage further by focusing on the integration of IT with the organisations fundamental strategies and core competencies. The focus on core competencies is primarily where problems start to occur in these organisations. “An apparently smooth running and highly productive core competence may mutate rapidly into a core rigidity”. Even within high performance six sigma organisations there is little support for the identification of processes that may have become or will turn into core rigidities. The Targeting Method avoids this core rigidity issue by utilising cause and effect to link processes to current organisational goals.