The IT alignment planning process

In 1998, the Information Technology Division (ITD) of Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) jointly developed an IT Alignment Planning Model with their Energy Services Unit. The model helped identify areas of information concern, resulted in the prioritized development of IT strategies, and served as a pilot for the corporate-wide implementation of the IT Alignment Planning process. The IT Alignment Planning process was then applied to the five OPPD business units, giving management a view of Information Concerns and possible solutions. By tying the planning process directly to each business unit's Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in their strategic plans, IT Alignment Planning presented a strategic view of information and IT systems, products, and services across the corporation. The process also provided input into strategic and tactical planning processes, and considered the effects of competition on the objective of improving information quality for IT clients.