The IT-business partnership: exploring a troubled relationship

Abstract

[Abstract]: Managing the business relationship between information technology (IT) and business professionals is critical to the success of an organisation. For the IT group to add value to the business, a healthy IT-business relationship is absolutely essential. Unfortunately though in many organisations, the IT-business relationship is riddled with problems. This paper first explores the troubled IT-business relationship, and then explores the troubled IT-business relationship though the application of a model to identify essential ingredients that are lacking in the IT-business relationship. Data is collected from interviews and a questionnaire administered to eleven IT and twenty-one business professionals in five Australian organisations. With knowledge of ingredients that are lacking in the IT-business relationship, practitioners can structure and facilitate actions leading to a more effective IT-business relationship, a healthier work environment, and ultimately greater success within the organisation.