Comments on: IT should own the misalignment problem http://robertlambert.net/2009/04/it-should-own-the-misalignment-problem/ on business-aligned information technology Fri, 22 Jul 2011 22:14:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bob http://robertlambert.net/2009/04/it-should-own-the-misalignment-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Bob Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:34:52 +0000 http://robertlambert.net/?p=401#comment-61 Ara and Jonathon thanks for your insightful comments, both here and at your blogs, on this topic - great stuff and I'm learning from the exchange. Ara, in answer to your comment I also wouldn't discount relationship building as a critical element of aligning with the business, but I've observed a tendency of some to focus on relationship building without improving the quality of the work. In spite of my parenthetical comment, I agree you can't have one without the other, as you correctly pointed out. It is worth pointing out here that there's a risk in working on the relationship without visibly improving performance. The risk is that is may be seen as image building, and, to Jonathon's point, may reduce IT's competitiveness in the face of potential outsourcing. Ara and Jonathon thanks for your insightful comments, both here and at your blogs, on this topic – great stuff and I’m learning from the exchange. Ara, in answer to your comment I also wouldn’t discount relationship building as a critical element of aligning with the business, but I’ve observed a tendency of some to focus on relationship building without improving the quality of the work. In spite of my parenthetical comment, I agree you can’t have one without the other, as you correctly pointed out.
It is worth pointing out here that there’s a risk in working on the relationship without visibly improving performance. The risk is that is may be seen as image building, and, to Jonathon’s point, may reduce IT’s competitiveness in the face of potential outsourcing.

]]> By: IT’s Interest in Business/IT Alignment : Practical Analyst http://robertlambert.net/2009/04/it-should-own-the-misalignment-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-60 IT’s Interest in Business/IT Alignment : Practical Analyst Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:23:54 +0000 http://robertlambert.net/?p=401#comment-60 [...] Lambert says IT should take the initiative in solving problems  of business/IT misalignment, and thinks the requirements process can be an [...] [...] Lambert says IT should take the initiative in solving problems  of business/IT misalignment, and thinks the requirements process can be an [...]

]]> By: Jonathan Babcock http://robertlambert.net/2009/04/it-should-own-the-misalignment-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Jonathan Babcock Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:41:35 +0000 http://robertlambert.net/?p=401#comment-56 Interesting articles, Bob and Ara. A thought that crossed my mind as I read your articles is that IT has an interest in taking the initiative in making Business/IT alignment work because corporate IT is seen increasingly as just another vendor. These days, the business has other well-marketed options such as outsourcing and off-the-shelf. If they can't get things done in-house, they know they have other options. IT needs to provide a compelling value proposition and "sell" its services to the business customer almost as if it were competing for it's business on the open market. As IT folk, we're certainly incented to reach out and keep the customer relationship healthy and that biz/it alignment in balance. Interesting articles, Bob and Ara.

A thought that crossed my mind as I read your articles is that IT has an interest in taking the initiative in making Business/IT alignment work because corporate IT is seen increasingly as just another vendor. These days, the business has other well-marketed options such as outsourcing and off-the-shelf. If they can’t get things done in-house, they know they have other options.

IT needs to provide a compelling value proposition and “sell” its services to the business customer almost as if it were competing for it’s business on the open market. As IT folk, we’re certainly incented to reach out and keep the customer relationship healthy and that biz/it alignment in balance.

]]> By: Ara Trembly http://robertlambert.net/2009/04/it-should-own-the-misalignment-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Ara Trembly Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:19:42 +0000 http://robertlambert.net/?p=401#comment-55 Well said. I like the idea of IT taking up the reins and going for it when it comes to establishing better relationships, and certainly IT has substance to bring. But can we really "take emotions out of the picture"? Probably not, unless we subscribe to the Vulcan code of emotive flatness. The key is to leverage the parties' emotions (on both sides) by championing personal responsibility and looking beyond our own selfish needs, jealousies or fears. If we start by magnifying, then changing the emotional climate, the results for business and IT will improve immeasurably. Well said. I like the idea of IT taking up the reins and going for it when it comes to establishing better relationships, and certainly IT has substance to bring. But can we really “take emotions out of the picture”? Probably not, unless we subscribe to the Vulcan code of emotive flatness. The key is to leverage the parties’ emotions (on both sides) by championing personal responsibility and looking beyond our own selfish needs, jealousies or fears. If we start by magnifying, then changing the emotional climate, the results for business and IT will improve immeasurably.

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