The Impact of Sound Relationships on Achieving Alignment

Abstract

International Data Corporation (CIO, 1997) surveyed 283 top executives across three vertical industries: finance, manufacturing, and retail/wholesale. They found “a strong correlation between the effectiveness of the IT department (IS organization) and the relationship between the CIO and the CEO”. “We suspect that this relationship, if it is close, permits the CIO to develop the IT department (IS organization) into a service that delivers competitive advantage for the company, thus enhancing the careers of every IT professional in the organization.” In other words, “a certain amount of mutual esteem will help IT (IS) function as a business partner”.