| Summary: | Interaction and linkages between business and information
technology (IT) strategies remain a primary concern among executives. The
effort to pursuit these alignment becomes more and more complicated,
while the companies seek to conduct the business strategy adaptations to a
dynamic corporate environment. In that condition, alignment plan is risky,
especially when companies are striving to formulate how flexible are IT
infrastructures need to be provided in order to realize.
This study aims to gain an in depth understanding on how
companies achieve alignment and the policy framework that underlies the
efforts, particularly those that associated with the most dominant factor that
contribute to the establishment of strategic alignment, namely IT
infrastructures flexibility. For that purpose, the study explored four
companies engaged in the field of oil, electricity, and communication.
Started by assessing the alignment condition on each case, this study
conducting some discussions and in depth interviews with officials and
staffs in charge of the analysis, design and implementation of both business
strategies and IT strategies. Using survey data, details of interviews, as well
as sources of some relevant facts, the study identified elements that reflect
IT infrastructures flexibilities namely connectivity, compatibility,
modularity, IT staff knowledge and skills, and integration.
From the finding of this study it can be seen that the process of
achieving alignment is not a simple task. It requires companies to be aware
of five elements that can affect IT alignment. Those elements are covering
both technical and behavioral dimensions of company�s components that
need to be included into the consideration during the planning phase.
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