Most Effective Approach to Align IT to Business Objectives

A.

IT governance is the process of ensuring that IT supports and enables the organization's strategies and objectives. Once an IT governance framework has been defined, it is essential to align IT to business objectives to ensure that IT investments are delivering value to the organization.

Out of the given options, the MOST effective approach to align IT to business objectives would be to establish a cross-business unit committee to prioritize IT investment. This approach involves creating a team of representatives from different business units who have a stake in IT investments. The committee can be responsible for assessing and prioritizing IT projects based on their alignment with business objectives and overall value to the organization.

Establishing a cross-business unit committee to prioritize IT investment is effective because it provides a collaborative approach to decision-making. The committee can identify areas where IT can add value to the organization and prioritize IT investments based on their impact on business objectives. By involving representatives from different business units, the committee can ensure that IT investments align with the needs of the organization as a whole and not just one specific area.

Auditing the alignment of IT to business objectives regularly is also important, but it is a reactive approach rather than a proactive one. Auditing can identify areas where IT is not aligned with business objectives, but it does not necessarily address the root cause of the misalignment. Moreover, it is not an ongoing process and may not be sufficient to ensure continuous alignment.

Similarly, reviewing the return on investment of IT initiatives on a regular basis and reporting IT investment and performance to senior management regularly are also important but not the MOST effective approach to align IT to business objectives. While these approaches can help track the success of IT investments, they are reactive and focus on evaluating past performance rather than proactively aligning IT to business objectives.

In summary, while all the options given are important, establishing a cross-business unit committee to prioritize IT investment is the MOST effective approach to align IT to business objectives. It provides a proactive approach to decision-making, ensuring that IT investments are aligned with business objectives and delivering value to the organization.