Aligning Business with Technology..few thoughts..

Having been a part of the IT industry for a while now, it sometimes seems quite interesting to look back into the nuances of jargons and marketing excellence and the impact on the industry. Articulation and the magic of words has always been the charmer that can make the most factual beginnings end up in a world of imagination that’s far from reality!
Often certain critical terminologies used like “increasing productivity” , “generating RoI “,providing solutions “on-demand”, “strategic partner” etc are often spontaneous responses which are more involuntary than meant and understood. These are seriously “easier said than done”!
Keeping the above contexts in mind, let’s looks at “Aligning business with technology”-a phrase that invariably is a part of every IT provider’s message, a strategic goal for every business,a caption in bold and italics in every CIO’s presentation- but has it really been well understood, well executed or should I say “well-aligned”?
Taking a simplistic look at this objective, it essentially means achieving business objectives and leveraging IT as an enabler to achieve them. Slicing it further, some of the business goals common across the board are increasing revenues, lowering costs and improving operational efficiency. Now the key would lie in translating the same into technology solutions, right? How would you justify a server or a piece of code in a machine would increase revenues you earn from selling chocolates? How would you justify a million dollar spent as a mode of lowering costs? ( and trust me, no IT company is running charity to not lighten your wallet!).How would you ensure the optimal route of sending your truck load of iron ore is going to be operationally beneficial due to some lines of code written by a geek?
However non-realistic it may seem at times, it’s been happening and intellectuals or business tycoons have been there , done that- but yes, its easier said than done-and am sure all those who mean when they say “ i have aligned my business with technology” would agree to that!
A host of technologies, architectures,platforms,delivery models,etc have been credited the honor of enabling businesses with technology ( one f the most common and prolific participants being SOA)- but none have provided the “magic potion” or a “fool-proof” mechanism to make it successful. I believe there are a host of factors which play a critical role beyond the obvious in ensuring the success or failure of such “strategic initiatives” at an execution level:
1. People: To ensure business goals are set and met with seamless integration with IT, organizations need thought leaders who could lead this transition and ensure effective translation. Expecting the business guy to fathom those architectural horrors or the technical guy to comprehend the effect of software on P&L accounts is irrational- we need individuals who have been on both sides of the table to help build the bridge

2. Phased and committed approach: We all know Rome wasn’t built in a day- and so businesses can’t be transformed overnight. This alignment at an execution and operational level needs to be phased, with a strong commitment from executives at all levels with the patience to see returns in the mid to long term. Phased approach helps in incremental realization of benefits and taking stock of corrective measures but its an investment that needs to be made with an etched out roadmap towards moving to the next level.The will and commitment to invest in the future is core!

3. Look before you leap: This is potentially the most critical factor that needs to be considered when a business is looking at a business + IT transformation. Every business has its own nuances and the requirements are specific. So are their ability to spend and the need to transform. The IT industry is not unknown to terminologies existent at 80,000feet levels which disappear before they get their foot on the ground- be it the dot com bubble, be it the initial lapses in the ASP model or be it “aligning business with technology” – its important to be safe than sorry especially since its an entire business at stake- evaluate the credentials, the risk-reward for your business, the right partners( experts) who know the tricks of the trade and then leap- not because its supposed to be jazzy and seemingly imperative.

I have no doubts that aligning business with technology is critical and definitely a key differentiator that determines the success or failure in today’s highly competitive industry but the next time you say “ I can help you align your business and technology” or you put those unavoidable words on your presentation-think twice and remember- its easier said than done!
It maybe as simply put forth as a callous claim towards “increasing productivity” , “generating RoI “ providing solutions “on-demand” or being a , “strategic partner” - but the true challenge and the true success lies in taking the right steps wrt people, policies,priniciples,commitment and executional levels- move slowly , but surely!
Aligning business with technology is not a goal you reach, rather a road you travel- it’s an ongoing journey, a continuous process, one that changes as dynamically as the business & technology environment around you.
Robert Frost may not have exactly formed those immortal lines in this context but I can’t help thinking that for every individual who wants to contribute towards this journey, needs to remember right through…:

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep....

Happy Alignment!