Question

Imagine you are the CIO responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of a strategically aligned IT plan. You are responsible to ensure the plan’s success. The final plan you develop will be the basis for assessing progress throughout the year.

What 5 results should your alignment process produce? Why?

Answer 1

The alignment process is critical to the success of the implementation of the strategic plan. Alignment includes not only the strategic IT plan but also the technology, process, people, etc. As the CIO of the organization, I would ensure success of the plan. The 5 results that the alignment process should produce are:

1. Return on Investment (ROI) – It is important to assess if the IT plan has been effective so that the organization takes the returns that it has invested. This control measure helps to avoid loss in investment.
2. Production output per employee- The alignment process with the strategic IT plan should enhance employee production. If there is delay or haggard performance, then the plan is not a success.
3. Usability of application or IT plan (ease of use)- The IT plan enables the IT infrastructure to operate in alignment with the organizational goals. Hence, the employees should have the comfort ability to use the IT plan and not consider them as a complex task.
4. Organizational goals and productivity – The alignment process should ensure that the organizational goals are achieved efficiently and effectively. The productivity also is measured to assess if the IT plan is effective or not.
5. Employee morale- An effective alignment process would not hinder the employee morale. It would increase the morale and subsequently the production of the organization.