Abstract
This paper investigates perceptions of the IT/business relationship held by 653 IT managers and their staff and 503 of their business counterparts. On the basis of data collected over a 3-year period using a survey instrument, the paper highlights areas of perceived difficulty in the IT/business relationship and seeks evidence of trends in the business/IT relationship. The data reveal significant differences in the perceptions of business managers and those of IT professionals, especially with respect to issues of IT system efficacy and communication efficacy. Both cohorts demonstrate increasing awareness of the importance of IT as a driver of business activity, as well as comparable upward or downward trends in response on issues relating to IT's alignment with business strategy and communication efficacy, but only the first mentioned issue is identified as a statistically significant trend.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Applegate, L. and Elam, J. (1992). New information systems leaders: a changing role in a changing world. MIS Quarterly 16(4): 469–490.
Bashein, B. and Markus, M.L. (1997). A credibility equation for IT specialists. Sloan Management Review 38(4): 35–44.
Boyle, R. (1994). Critical success factors for establishing and maintaining the position of CIO. Information Strategy: The Executives Journal 11(1): 29–39.
Cross, J., Earl, M. and Sampler, J. (1997). Transformation of the IT function at British Petroleum. MIS Quarterly 21(4): 401–423.
Earl, M. and Feeny, D. (1994). Is your CIO adding value? Sloan Management Review 35(3): 11–21.
Ewusi-Mensah, K. and Przasnyski, Z. (1994). Factors contributing to the abandonment of information systems development projects. Journal of Information Technology 9: 185–201.
Feeny, D. and Edwards, R. (1992). Understanding the CEO/CIO relationship. MIS Quarterly 16(4): 435–446.
Feeny, D. and Willcocks, L. (1998). Core IS capabilities for exploiting information technology. Sloan Management Review 39(3): 9–21.
Grindley, K. (1992). Information systems issues facing senior executives: the culture gap. Journal of Strategic Information Systems 1(2): 57–62.
Huthessing, N. (1999). From CIO to CEO. Forbes 163(12): 104–106.
Keen, P. (1991). Getting value from information technology: managing the costs and benefits of IT. Working Paper, The International Center for Information Technologies.
Lederer, A. and Mendelow, A. (1987). Information resource planning: overcoming difficulties in identifying top management's objectives. MIS Quarterly 11(3): 389–399.
Maciag, G. (2002). The CIO challenge: bridging the gap between IT and CEO. National Underwriter, August 19, pp: 33–34.
Melymuka, K. (1999). From CIO to CEO. Computerworld 33(27): 48–49.
Markus, M.L. and Benjamin, R. (1996). Change agentry – the next IS frontier. MIS Quarterly 20(4): 385–407.
Mata, F. and Fuerst, W. (1995). Information technology and sustained competitive advantage: a resource-based analysis. MIS Quarterly 19(4): 487–495.
Peppard, J. (2001). Bridging the gap between the IS organisation and the rest of the business: plotting a route. Information Systems Journal 11: 249–270.
Peppard, J., Lambert, R. and Edwards, C. (2000). Whose job is it anyway?: organizational information competencies for value creation. Information Systems Journal 10: 291–322.
Peppard, J. and Ward, J. (1999). Mind the gap: diagnosing the relationship between the IT organisation and the rest of the business. Journal of Strategic Information Systems 8: 29–60.
Ross, J., Beath, C. and Goodhue, D. (1996). Develop long-term competitiveness through IT assets. Sloan Management Review 38(1): 31–42.
Stephens, C. and Ledbetter, W. (1992). Executive or functional manager? The nature of the CIO's job. MIS Quarterly 16(4): 449–647.
Ward, J. and Peppard, J. (1996). Reconciling the IT/business relationship: a troubled marriage in need of guidance. Journal of Strategic Information Systems 5: 37–65.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Willcoxson, L., Chatham, R. Progress in the IT/business relationship: a longitudinal assessment. J Inf Technol 19, 71–80 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jit.2000004
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jit.2000004