Alignment - I couldn't have said it better...

Take a look at this article by Thomas Wailgum at CIO.com: "If IT Isn't Aligned with the Business By Now, CIOs Should Quit or Be Fired." The language is a bit harsh but the sentiment is on target. I worked for one of the best who understood this. Today, I am still amazed at the number of organizations that resist talking to their business customers and would prefer to be reactive to requests rather than responsive to business needs. The value-add is in a conceptual understanding of needs - which is realized in conversation - and providing guidance and counsel in achieving the business goals. Anything less relegates IT to the line item expense on the monthly budget statement.