As leaders, mostly IT leaders
reading this blog, it is very interesting to observe the transformation that is
taking place right before our eyes. It
is even more interesting, or amazing, to see the number of IT career oriented
people that appear to be totally baffled by what is taking place.
For years, IT leaders have been
stressing the importance of, and the need for a stronger alignment between the
business and IT. Some consulting firms
have captured incredible sums of revenue espousing the virtues of a strong
alignment, selling “proven” processes, methodologies and governance models to
executives with a desire to address this need once and for all.
IT organizations all over the world
have latched on to this basic “theme” and have actually carried the message
into many corporate executive offices.
The message is often that they need help strengthening the Business and
IT alignment through better processes.
Being smart and conscientious people
that IT professionals are, many have taken on the task to study, learn and
master the fundamental process steps for establishing a strong business and IT
alignment.
Now, there is nothing wrong with
understanding and adopting a better process and governance model. What is amazing is that building a strong
alignment can be as simple as building a relationship, listening and becoming a
true and trusted partner. If you are
able to do this first, the processes, methodologies and governance models will
have a better chance of success.