ABSTRACT
The degree to which information technology (IT) flexibility, IT capability, and effective communication can influence alignment is mediated by the strategic planning surrounding information systems — also known as Strategic Information Systems Planning. This chapter examines the role of what can be called employee alignment, which serves as a precursor to the achievement of business— IT alignment. It explores in detail the specific components of employee alignment: communication, trust, and knowledge. The chapter studies that achieving alignment is critical to an organization's success and is ranked among the top of challenges organizations face. It also studies that oftentimes different parts of the organization may be mutually ignorant of one another's business functions and responsibilities. The chapter explores that business units and the Technology Division may be aware when they are out of alignment but each group has been shown to have varying perspectives on the causes or solutions to misalignments spanning ignorance of IT capability to lack of management support.
