Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this research report is to identify alignment factors, symptoms, and remedies
influencing the Business and Information Technology (IT) relationship. To put discussions around
this topic in context, a sound theoretical basis is built with a background check on the position of IT,
relative to the business of an organisation.
Through an in-depth literature review, the business value of IT is explained and the vital
importance of interaction between these two 'worlds' is discussed, where after the concept of
alignment (the bonding agent between these two worlds) is explained. Factors commonly known
to impact upon alignment are discussed, together with symptoms characteristically associated with
each misaligned problem factor. Lastly, remedies to misaligned factors are collated. Although
alignment factors, symptoms, and remedies proved to be fairly interrelated and intertwined,
discussions nevertheless aim to describe these in isolation as far as it logically make sense.
The following alignment factors were identified in the literature review, and are summarised in
Figure 5.2:
• Communications.
• Technology Scope.
• Competency Value measurements.
• Governance.
• Partnership.
• Skills.
Findings in the literature review are summarised and condensed, and symptoms and remedies are
categorised on factor level to formulate an alignment-guiding framework (Table 5.1 - 5.6). The
application of the framework is explained in these four basic steps:
• Step 1: Assess the 'health' of a company' alignment factors.
• Step 2: Determine the sub-factors' level of alignment.
• Step 3: Remedy misaligned factors.
• Step 4: Periodical re-evaluation / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie navorsingsverslag is om die belyningsfaktore, simptome, en oplossings wat
op die Besigheid en Informasietegnologie (IT) verhouding impakteer, te identifiseer. Om latere
besprekings rondom hierdie onderwerp in konteks te sit, word 'n deeglike teoretiese basis gebou
met 'n blik op die herkoms van IT, relatief tot die besigheid van die organisasie.
Deur middel van 'n deeglike literatuurstudie word die besigheidswaarde van IT en die uiters belangrike
interaksie tussen hierdie twee werelde beklemtoon, waarna die konsep van beleining
(die gom wat hierdie twee werelde bymekaar hou) verduidelik word. Faktore algemeen bekend as
invloedryk op die gebied van belyning, en simptome wat tipies geassosieer word met onbelyningsfaktore word bespreek. Laastens word oplossings vir die geidentifiseerde probleme bymekaar
gemaak. Alhoewel belyningsfaktore, simptome, en oplossings bewys is as verbasend naby verwant
aan mekaar en deurmekaar gevleg, poog besprekings nietemin am elkeen van die drie in
isolasie te bespreek, sover dit logies sin maak.
Die volgende belyningsfaktore is deur die literatuurstudie geidentifiseer, en word opgesom in
Figuur 5.2:
• Kommunikasie.
• Tegnologie-dekking.
• Bevoegdheid/waarde-metings.
• Bestuur.
• Vennootskap.
• Vaardighede.
Simptome en oplossings word op faktor-vlak gekategoriseer ten einde doel die belynings-riglyn
raamwerk te ontwikkel (Tabel 5.1 - 5.6). Toepassing van die raamwerk word in vier basiese
stappe verduidelik:
• Stap 1: "Assess the 'health' of a company' alignment factors."
• Stap 2: "Determine the sub-factors' level of alignment."
• Stap 3: "Remedy misaligned factors."
• Stap 4: "Periodical re-evaluation."
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/5543 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Maree, D. C. |
| Contributors | Butler, Martin, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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