Achieving the Goal: Steps to Consolidate Business Functions and IT Systems

B.

The goal of having "One business function. One IT system." after the merger of two major corporations implies that the IT systems of both companies need to be integrated into a single unified system. This is a complex task that requires careful planning and execution.

To achieve this goal, the FIRST step should be to create a standard enterprise architecture. This involves creating a comprehensive plan that outlines the structure and operation of the IT systems across the new organization. A standard enterprise architecture provides a common framework for all the IT systems, applications, and processes used in the organization.

Creating a standard enterprise architecture involves identifying the business functions and processes that need to be supported by the IT systems, and mapping out the existing systems to identify redundancies and areas of overlap. This process helps to identify opportunities for consolidation and optimization of the IT systems.

Once the standard enterprise architecture is in place, the next step is to document the requirements for each business function. This involves identifying the specific needs and priorities of each business unit and determining how these can be accommodated within the new IT system.

Defining service level agreements (SLAs) with each business function is another important step in the process. This involves setting out the expectations and responsibilities of both IT and the business units, and establishing targets and metrics for performance.

Finally, forming a combined IT steering committee is important to oversee the implementation of the new IT system and ensure that it meets the needs of the business. This committee should include representatives from all the key business units and IT teams, and should have the authority to make decisions and allocate resources as needed.

In summary, the correct order of steps to achieve the goal of "One business function. One IT system." after a merger of two major corporations is:

1. Create a standard enterprise architecture
2. Document requirements for each business function
3. Define service level agreements with each business function
4. Form a combined IT steering committee.