The effects of the relationship between business strategies and information technology strategies: the telecommunication sector of Zimbabwe

Abstract

The relationship between business strategies and IT/IS strategies is one of the most important aspects of the management in the telecommunication organisations. The dramatic increase in the role of IS/IT in business and industry lately recognized as IS/IT became an inseparable part of business and industrial organizations in all sectors including government. IT delivers a value to the business and it is an important aspect to the top management and IT managers in many business firms and industrial organisations today.The purpose of this research explored the current relationship between business strategy and Information Systems strategy in the telecommunications sector in Zimbabwe, identified strategic alignment assessment methods that can be drawn from other countries for possible adoption by the industry in Zimbabwe, challenges posed by IS strategies and the solutions that management can implement and balancing the business strategy and IS strategy that gave competitive advantage insupporting their business objectives the telecommunications industry.The research was undertaken by examining the four telecommunications companies in Zimbabwe, Telecel, NetOne, Econet and TelOne. A survey, via a pretested questionnaire based on a Likert scale and in-depth interviews was used to gather data. The results indicated that the companies have business strategies and IS/IT strategies and IT strategies showedless positive relationshipin supporting the business strategies. The research proposed that the telecommunications companies must employ strategies that support their business objectives. This enables them to assess and improve their current level of strategic relationship and maintain an optimised level.