The Relationship Between Business Strategy and Information Technology Strategy Essay Example

Business strategy is the long term operating plan of a company; this plan specifies vision, mission and objectives through the development of policies. Information strategy can be used to implement the business strategy of a company; technology can be the tool by which a business can achieve its goal. The marrying or collaboration of the two is an ideal, to which companies theorize is the future. In the case of Jack Lowry of Goldman Industrial, the collaboration of business strategy and information strategy should be in the here and now. (Worthen 2001) Jack Lowry had a vision of collaboration between companies that do business together. Information technology strategies implemented at Goldman Industrial would facilitate collaboration with other companies, thus allowing for a streamlined operation that would save money and time for all involved. The investment by Goldman Industrial “of $4 million dollars to upgrade its systems, excluding training and education” was avant-garde and showed a belief in the ideal put forth by Jack Lowry. (Worthen 2001) However, the ideal needs collaboration between business partners, and many companies believe this ideal is still years away, in addition many companies are apprehensive about the monies needed to upgrade their technology. (Worthen 2001) So the marrying or collaboration of businesses that do business is sound, the execution of such an ideal however is met with reserve and obstacles. Another example of an ideal that met with obstacles and poor execution is the B2B exchange, discussed in an article by Mohanbir Sawhney at CIO.com. “At the root of the failure of B2B exchanges is the fact that their founders put the cart before the horse.” (Sawhney 2002) The B2B exchange was an ideal to bring together purchasers and vendors thereby “fostering liquidity, efficiency and transparency, and make money through the transaction fees,” although a good idea bringing this into fruition required a “minimum of liquidity”.