Business and information technology alignment : a case analysis at the Government Institutions Pension Fund (Namibia)

• Main Author: Kandetu, Tengovandu Kakeni
• Other Authors: Butler, Martin
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
• Subjects: Business enterprises > Namibia > Data processing; Information technology > Namibia; Organizational effectiveness > Namibia; Dissertations > Business management; Theses > Business management
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20831

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The incumbent needs for business excellence has placed demands on seamless relations between the IT organization and the business. This is a relationship that can never be left to chance. Hence, the objectives of this research were to assess whether the information technology strategy is aligned to the business strategy of the Government Institutions Pension Fund in Namibia and to ascertain how to narrow the gap between IT and business strategies at GIPF. This research has utilized a questionnaire as the main data source. The questionnaire had a Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient = 0.956, signaling a great internal consistency for the 33 questions of the survey instrument. The survey was performed on a random sample size limited to n=35, which indicates that the results may not be conclusive. The research revealed that the needs of the business should take pre-eminence in the alignment initiative and that IT implementations should be aimed at achieving those needs. However, there are times when IT needs to drive the business agenda in order to champion new opportunities and stimulate new efficiencies. In conclusion, it was established that the credibility of the IT organization, the management of demand for services and the relationship between IT and business executives are central to the quest for alignment. Proper consideration of these issues should be maintained to enable the use of IT for the benefit of business strategy. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige behoeftes vir besigheids-uitnemendheid het hoe vereistes geplaas op 'n geoliede en foutloose verhouding tussen inligtingstegnologie (IT) en die besigheid. Daar kan nie aanvaar word dat hierdie verhouding vanself sal ontwikkel nie. Die doelwitte van hierdie navorsing is juis om vas te stel of die GIPF van Namibie se inligtingstegnologie strategie in Iyn is met die besigheidsstrategie en om te bepaal hoe hierdie gaping nouer gemaak kan word. Die navorsing het gebruik gemaak van 'n vraelys as die hoof bron van data. Die vraelys het 'n Cronbach alpha betrouebare koeffisient van 0.956, wat aandui dat daar groot interne konsekwentheid is vir die 33 vrae van die ondersoek instrument. Die ondersoek was gedoen op 'n willekeurige toetsgrootte waar n=35 wat mag aandui dat die resultate nie bepalend is nie. Die navorsing toon dat die behoeftes van die besigheid prominensie moet neem in die belynings inisiatief en dat IT implementering daarop gemik moet wees om hierdie doelwitte te bereik. Maar, daar is kere waar die inligtingstegnologie se behoetes die dryfveer vir die besigheidsagenda moet wees om nuwe geleenthede te ondersoek en om nuwe bekwaamhede te stimuleer. Ter samevatting, is dit vasgestel dat die aanneemlikheid van die IT organisasie, die bestuur van die vraag na dienste en die verhouding tussen IT en die besigheids bestuur sentraal is vir die soeke na 'n verhouding wat volkome in Iyn is. Daar moet deurlopend deeglik aandag aan hierdie aspekte geskenk word om te verseker dat IT gebruik word ter ondersteuning van die besigheidstrategie.