Strategic alignment, information technology and the competition for the future

This survey analyses the association between the Planning Process, the strategic alignment of IT and Human Resources and the awareness of the companies towards the competition For the future, as elaborated by Prahalad and Hamel, presenting also an instrument for measuring these variables. The results are dependent on the economic situation of the Country: economic stabilization after years of high inflation, with increased opening to foreign competition from Mercosul, the South Cone Latin American Free Trade Zone and other partners, restructuring with the privatization of large and reduction of the public deficit and an increasing influence of Banks and foreign capital. Companies differed in their planning processes and the management of human resources and TT functions, as a result of environmental and market factors, managerial culture and others, that could be related to their effectiveness in adapting to the new situation. A survey conducted with senior executives of the largest private and public companies in the Country provided the data for this survey. The results show strong associations between Planning, Human Resources Management and the Awareness towards the Competition for the Future. The relationship between IT alignment and the other variables showed significant but lower values. A discriminant analysis showed that private companies are in a better position regarding Human Resources Management.