The Alignment of Information Management and Technology to future Service and Business Strategies of the NHS in Wales

Abstract

Strategic alignment of information technology (IT) exists where the organisation's goals and activities are in harmony with the information systems (IS) that support them then whilst equally failure to leverage IT may seriously hamper a firm's performance and viability. Effective strategic alignment positively influences IT effectiveness; and leads to superior business performance. There is a lack of agreement as to how firms do and should align and writers warn that in real life organisations with differing organisational structures and business processes which are operating in alternative environments are likely to require different approaches to alignment. There is not 'one design fits all contexts' in alignment and despite a broad range of practical approaches having been considered it is clear that few cover the whole aspect and wider landscape of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and business alignment. Whilst the literature research has identified a significant body of writing in support of ICT and business alignment the process used to achieve strategy alignment remains under-researched with limited evidence focused around public service ICT alignment, disagreement as to how alignment is optimally researched, and more widely a focus on theoretical rather than empirical studies.

Date of Award	Oct 2014
Original language	English
Supervisor	Martin Rhisiart (Supervisor)