Alignment between information technology and business: the case of a medical cooperative in Parana

Abstract

This exploratory study assesses the degree of alignment between I T and business in an organization of health care management in order to understand the role of IT in this context. To assess the degree of alignment of the strategies of IT and business, resources developed by other researchers, especially by Audy and Brodbeck (2003) were used. Documentary analysis and interviews with executives made it clear that this organization makes a significant effort to align IT strategies with business strategies. Of the thirteen alignment elements evaluated, eight had high scores. IT is perceived by this organization from the classic perspective of hierarchy of strategic planning, where business orients the strategies and IT is considered to be a support for business strategies. This is because IT planning always comes after business planning and therefore without assessment of IT resources necessary or of opportunities presented. Furthermore, an implementing and enabling function of the strategy was proven