Technology Alignment with the Business

"Business alignment is key for IT organizations to demonstrate IT value and transparency of the IT services delivered"

In the CIO Magazine 2004 "State of the CIO" survey, a top five priority identified by CEO's as well as technology leaders is for technology organizations to have better alignment with their business partners. Another theme for IT leader for 2005 is although cost reductions and driving efficiency is still the top priority, technology being able to enable and sustain business growth is a primary focus for businesses.

Technology organizations have historically gone through cycles of change and alignment with their business partners ranging from decentralized to centralized operations and somewhere in between or a hybrid model. Business pressures tend to drive these changes, such as:

• Lowering Costs / Expense Reduction
• Consolidating and Standardizing Services
• Rapid Business Market Development
• Control of Technology Function

NLA focuses on the key touchpoints between the technology organization and the business. We offer our clients thought leadership in helping think through the complex issues surrounding business alignment and enhancing the value of the technology function.

Positioning IT Organizations for Success

NLA offers clients a range of advisory services on IT alignment with the business that tackle the complex issues effecting organizations today. These can be summarized as:

IT Service Chargeback Methodologies

• Understanding fixed and variable cost structures, service and cost transparency, and rebill frameworks

Operating Model Design

• Developing the operating model for the technology organization and how it interfaces to the business

Operational Excellence

• Strategies for IT operations that demonstrate service improvement and quality via process reengineering, metrics, and reporting

Technology Governance

• Interaction with the business for IT investment management, portfolio oversight and tracking