Chapter 3 Managing the Information Technology Resource 1
Chapter 3
Strategic Alignment Maturity
True-False Questions
1.
The Strategic Alignment Maturity Assessment Model is primarily concerned with integrating
multiple business functions by using an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
2.
Alignment evolves into a relationship where the function of IT and other business functions
adapt their strategies separately.
3.
Firms need to consider changing both their business scope and their infrastructure as a result
of IT innovation.
4.
Competitive advantage can come from the appropriate application of IT as a driver of
business strategy.
5.
The Governance criterion of the Strategic Alignment Maturity model focuses on ensuring
ongoing knowledge sharing across organizations.
6.
A focus of the Scope and Architecture criterion of the Strategic Alignment Maturity model is
concerned with effectively applying emerging technologies.
7.
The most mature level of the strategic alignment maturity assessment is the improved process
level.
8.
Organizations that are at Strategic Alignment Maturity Level 1 can be characterized as
having the highest level of Strategic Alignment Maturity.
9.
It is highly improbable that organizations at a Strategic Alignment Maturity Level 1 will be
able to achieve an aligned IT business strategy.
10.
The Committed Process level of Strategic Alignment Maturity tends to be directed at local
situations or functional organizations.
11.
The Optimized Process level of Strategic Alignment Maturity tends to be directed at local
situations or functional organizations.
12.
The Established Focused Process level of Strategic Alignment Maturity concentrates
governance, processes, and communications towards specific business objectives.
13.
Extrastructure refers to an overinvestment in IT infrastructure in order to achieve competitive
advantage.
14.
The first step in the Strategic Alignment Maturity assessment process is to sustain alignment.
15.
The purpose of analyzing and prioritizing gaps during the Strategic Alignment Maturity
assessment process is to understand the activities necessary to improve the business–IT
linkage.
Multiple Choice Questions
16.
All of the following terms are considered to be synonymous with alignment except:
a. linkage.
b. integration.
c. harmony.
d. disjoint.
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17.
The following are all criteria of the Strategic Alignment Maturity assessment except:
a. Communications Maturity.
b. Scope Architecture Maturity.
c. Governance Maturity.
d. Leadership Maturity.
18.
Which one of the following is concerned with training, salary, performance feedback, and
career opportunities?:
a. Skills Maturity
b. Governance Maturity
c. Partnership Maturity
d. Communications Maturity
19.
The Partnership Maturity criterion includes all of the following except:
a. IT program management.
b. business sponsor/champions.
c. IT investment management.
d. shared goals/risks/rewards.
20.
Which of the following is true about the Strategic Alignment Maturity model
a. it has 6 maturity levels and 5 criteria
b. it has 5 maturity levels and 6 criteria
c. it has 5 maturity levels and 4 criteria
d. it has 4 maturity levels and 5 criteria
21.
The Communications Maturity criterion includes all of the following except:
a. protocol rigidity.
b. understanding of IT by the business.
c. understanding of the business by the business.
d. knowledge sharing.
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22.
The Governance Maturity criterion includes all of the following except:
a. inter-unit liaisons.
b. business strategic planning.
c. prioritization process.
d. steering committees.
23.
The Scope and Architecture Maturity criterion includes all of the following except:
a. innovation/entrepreneurship.
b. standards articulation.
c. architectural transparency.
d. managing emerging technology.
24.
The Competency/Value Maturity criterion includes all of the following except:
a. business metrics.
b. business’ perception of IT value.
c. service level agreements.
d. benchmarking.
25.
The Skills Maturity criterion includes all of the following except:
a. career crossover.
b. management style.
c. standards articulation.
d. cultural locus of power.
26.
The primary objective of the strategic alignment maturity assessment is to help with
the mutual understanding between IT and business executives with regards to all of
the following except:
a. agreement that a criteria needs to be improved.
b. agreement that a good criteria can be better.
c. disagreement with how good or bad a criteria is.
d. disagreement with the specific maturity “number” they are at.
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27.
A management practice that firms use to facilitate knowledge sharing between business and
IT functions best describes:
a. inter-unit liaison.
b. Delphi approach.
c. benchmarking
d. strategic planning.
28.
Leveraging IT assets on an enterprise-wide basis and the focus of applications systems on
driving business process enhancements to obtain sustainable competitive advantage best
defines the:
a. Initial Process.
b. Committed Process.
c. Established Process.
d. Improved Process.
29.
Which one of the following considers IT as a value center?:
a. Initial Process
b. Committed Process
c. Established Process
d. Improved Process
30.
Each of the following is a step in the process of assessing Strategic Alignment Maturity
except:
a. choose and evaluate success criteria.
b. develop business and IT strategic objectives.
c. analyze and prioritize gaps.
d. set goals and establish a team.
Fill In the Blanks
31.
A tool which provides a comprehensive vehicle for organizations to evaluate business–IT
alignment in terms of where they are and what they can do to improve alignment is referred
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timely way, in harmony with business strategies, goals, and needs.
Reference: p. 69
33.
The maturity criterion that is concerned with ensuring that the appropriate business and
IT participants formally discuss and review the priorities and allocation of IT
34.
Reference: p. 72
The maturity criterion that is concerned with how each organization perceives the
contribution of the other; the trust that develops among the participants and the
35.
The maturity criterion that is concerned with demonstrating the value of IT in terms of
Reference: p. 72
36.
The maturity criterion that is concerned with factors that enhance the organization’s cultural
and social environment as a component of organizational effectiveness is referred to as Skills
37.
The maturity criterion that is concerned with IT infrastructure flexibility and transparency is
Reference: p. 72
38.
The maturity criterion that is concerned with ensuring ongoing knowledge sharing
39.
A person whose role is to facilitate inter-unit knowledge sharing is defined as a(n) liaison.
The disparity between different members of an organization with respect to their assessment
Reference: p. 73, 90
Reference: p. 74
Chapter 3 Managing the Information Technology Resource 7
having the lowest level of Strategic Alignment Maturity.
Reference: p. 79
the maturity assessment team.
Reference: p. 86
convergence.
Reference: p. 89
44.
The step in the Strategic Alignment Maturity assessment process that is concerned with
ensuring there is an executive sponsor, champion, and representative business and IT leaders
is concerned with developing and cultivating an “alignment behavior.”.
Reference: p. 90
Organizations that are at Strategic Alignment Maturity Level 1 can be characterized as
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Essay Questions
46.
List and briefly describe the six criteria of the Strategic Alignment Maturity model.
47.
List and briefly describe the five levels of the Strategic Alignment Maturity model.
Chapter 3 Managing the Information Technology Resource 9
48.
Surveys of business and IT executives have shown that a critical issue for them is achieving
strategic alignment. Discuss the importance of IT-business alignment and why it is difficult
to achieve and sustain.
49.
List four things an IT manager needs to do in order to successfully manage and integrate IT
into the organization’s strategies.
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50.
List and briefly describe the six steps of the Strategic Alignment Maturity assessment
process.