Managing Change: Business/ IT Alignment and Adaptability of Information Systems

The ability to adapt to frequent changes has emerged as a new paradigm for successful business\noperations. The paper outlines an approach for business/ IT alignment taking organizational\ntransformation into account.\nA framework for enterprise architecture is introduced which links business - , application -, and\ninfrastructure architecture. Key element of architecture design is to account for interdependencies\namong the building blocks of architecture. Blueprints give a comprehensive view on the building\nblocks and how the interact.\nThe criteria and process how to analyse the adaptability of information systems are described. Based\non the assessment principal strategies for information system deployment are pointed out.\nFinally the architecture development process and the main stakeholders and their respective usage of\nthe design techniques are sketched.\nKeywords: business/ IT alignment, organizational change, adaptability of information systems,\nenterprise architecture, architecture management, blue prints, architecture development process,\nstakeholders