Information technology Alignment Planning—a case study

This paper describes the Information Technology Alignment Planning Process—a strategic IT planning process created to complement the corporate planning model used by a major Utility company in the Midwest. Corporate planning activities produced the divisional strategies, critical success factors, and goals that then were used to by the IT Alignment Planning process to align IT within the company. The process is intended to aid in making the best possible use of IT resources in meeting the corporation’s business objectives. Fifty-eight managers from five major business units participated in the study. Several important factors and their resulting benefits were identified. The model utilized an intuitive color-coded alternative to statistical output that was readily accepted by management. We found that the process helped align IT with business strategies and improved and facilitated communication on IT project management and development.