Exploring the relationship between IT governance practices and business/IT alignment through extreme case analysis in Belgian mid‐to‐large size financial enterprises
Journal of Enterprise Information Management
ISSN: 1741-0398
Article publication date: 25 September 2009
Abstract
Purpose
Many thought leaders are promoting information technology (IT) governance and its supporting practices as an approach to improve business/IT alignment. This paper aims to further explore this assumed positive relationship between IT governance practices and business/IT alignment.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper explores the relationship between the use of IT governance practices and business/IT alignment, by creating a business/IT alignment maturity benchmark and qualitatively comparing the use of IT governance practices in the extreme cases.
Findings
The main conclusion of the research is that all extreme case organisations are leveraging a broad set of IT governance practices, and that IT governance practices need to obtain at least a maturity level 2 (on a scale of 5) to positively influence business/IT alignment. Also, a list of 11 key enabling IT governance practices is identified.
Research limitations/implications
This research adheres to the process theory, implying a limited definition of prediction. An important opportunity for future research lies in the domain of complementary statistical correlation research.
Practical implications
This research identifies key IT governance practices that organisations can leverage to improve business/IT alignment.
Originality/value
This research contributes to new theory building in the IT governance and alignment domain and provides practitioners with insight on how to implement IT governance in their organisations.
Keywords
Citation
De Haes, S. and Van Grembergen, W. (2009), "Exploring the relationship between IT governance practices and business/IT alignment through extreme case analysis in Belgian mid‐to‐large size financial enterprises", Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. 22 No. 5, pp. 615-637. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410390910993563
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited