IT Alignment

The IT Alignment Model

IT Alignment connects PPM with EAM. At the strategic level, PPM and EAM analyze requirements, feasibility, value, risks, and dependencies. The results from both sides are combined to schedule IT projects jointly. At the tactical level, PPM and EAM provide governance through frameworks, policies, and principles to guide solution architects and project managers, respectively.

The IT Alignment Model has been created for strategic IT planning integrating PPM, EAM, and business strategy. It includes three alignment processes:

• Business-Project Alignment between PPM and business strategy. PPM is involved in the strategic business planning process for analytical reasons (foremost value creation, dependencies, and risks) and help filter and prioritize project proposals based on business needs.
  
• Business-IT Alignment between EAM and business strategy. EAM links the business architecture (e.g. capabilities, organization, processes) and the IT architecture (e.g. IT infrastructure, IT applications, data) and must ensure their consistency for the current state (as-is) and the future position (to-be). EAM also inspires the business strategy in view of new technologies and digital innovations.
  
  

• IT-Project Alignment between PPM and EAM. The analytical results from PPM and EAM are combined to propose, select, prioritize, and schedule all projects. Scheduled projects  receive budgets and resources for implementation. PPM and EAM draft together a long-range timescale, which is referred to as roadmap. It harmonizes priorities, considers dependencies, and places IT projects accordingly. Roadmapping closes the strategic alignment loop.