TECHNOLOGY
6 align your technology STEPS to
and business strategy Even businesses that have been slow on the uptake of digital technology have now, by necessity, accelerated their digital transformation programmes. As they adjust to this time of physical distancing, organisations are looking at how they can get the new remote working technology into lockstep with the business. When IT and business are not aligned, inefficiencies, and unnecessary cost and risk creep into the organisation. And while you’re trying to put out these fires, your business is falling behind and losing its competitive edge. This is something that no business can afford in a time of uncertainty. That’s because IT no longer just supports the business, like it did in the past. It now enables business at a time when processes need to be digital if the business is to keep operating throughout a national shutdown. When IT understands the business needs and goals, it can help you to respond to constant change, while boosting productivity, creativity, revenue, and customer satisfaction.
Deciphering the disconnect Before we look at how you can start to align your 32 YOUR BUSINESS | June-July 2020
business and IT strategies, it helps to understand what causes misalignment in the first place. A disconnect between business and technology usually happens if: • Management doesn’t understand the value that IT brings to the business, • IT doesn’t understand what matters to the business, • IT and business decisions are made separately, or • There’s resistance to technology change within the organisation. Organisations have developed high expectations of their technology. They want it to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and productivity, and enhance workflows, processes, and communication. But this is only possible if all aspects of the business are working towards the same goals.
Strengthen the IT-business connection Your internal and external ecosystems are always in flux. Customers and employee expectations will shift, and you’ll face increasing pressure to adapt to changing competitive and economic landscapes. This can cause misalignment between the business and IT strategies. Therefore, your technology environment should be flexible, to evolve with the business; agile, to support changes in circumstances; and scalable, to cope with increased demand, more staff, or new markets. Getting to this point is a process. Business-IT alignment happens in stages that play out in a continuous loop.
