Aligning IT with the business should be a significant management priority for all IT decision-makers. The problem is that many small- to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) do not have a formalized business strategy for IT to align with. Interview business leaders to facilitate the IT planning process and align IT's project plans with business goals.

The Price of Poor Alignment

The purpose of IT is to deliver an infrastructure that allows the business to attain its strategic goals. In order to do this, the business must play a key role in defining the kinds of IT projects that can help drive the business. Meanwhile, IT must be able to inform the business on the feasibility of projects given its budget constraints.

Unfortunately for most mid-sized enterprises, there is a disconnect between the two groups. Senior management does not understand why some IT projects do not fulfill expectations. Meanwhile,...