Strategic Business-IT alignment of application software packages: Bridging the Information Technology gap

Authors

  • Wandi Kruger

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18489/sacj.v49i0.90

Keywords:

Strategic Alignment, Information Technology Gap, Application Software Package

Abstract

An application software package implementation is a complex endeavour, and as such it requires the proper understanding, evaluation and redefining of the current business processes to ensure that the implementation delivers on the objectives set at the start of the project. Numerous factors exist that may contribute to the unsuccessful implementation of application software packages. However, the most significant contributor to the failure of an application software package implementation lies in the misalignment of the organisation’s business processes with the functionality of the application software package. Misalignment is attributed to a gap that exists between the business processes of an organisation and what functionality the application software package has to offer to translate the business processes of an organisation into digital form when implementing and configuring an application software package. This gap is commonly referred to as the information technology (IT) gap. This study proposes to define and discuss the IT gap. Furthermore this study will make recommendations for aligning the business processes with the functionality of the application software package (addressing the IT gap). The end result of adopting these recommendations will be more successful application software package implementations.

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Published

2012-09-29

Issue

Vol. 49 (2012)

Section

Research Papers (general)

License

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