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.