Logo PTI Logo FedCSIS

Proceedings of the 20th Conference on Computer Science and Intelligence Systems (FedCSIS)

Annals of Computer Science and Information Systems, Volume 43

Leveraging Business-IT Collaboration: Effective Design and Challenges of the IT Business Partner Role

, , ,

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15439/2025F9798

Citation: Proceedings of the 20th Conference on Computer Science and Intelligence Systems (FedCSIS), M. Bolanowski, M. Ganzha, L. Maciaszek, M. Paprzycki, D. Ślęzak (eds). ACSIS, Vol. 43, pages 595–603 ()

Full text

Abstract. The IT Business Partner (ITBP) role is increasingly adopted to bridge the gap between business and IT and foster strategic alignment. Even though organizations still struggle with implementing an effective collaboration between business and IT, the design of this role and the challenges it faces remain underexplored. This study is the first scientific paper to examine the ITBP. Through a case study and expert interviews, it derives eleven key tasks, with relationship management and advice at its core, and 14 required skills for effectiveness. It identifies challenges of the ITBP role, such as organizational integration, skill gaps and a lack of strategic focus. This study contributes to the field by offering a comprehensive understanding of the ITBP's design and role for business IT alignment. It provides organizations with guidance on the implementation and skill development of the ITBP role. Future research should validate findings and further explore the role's effectiveness.

References

  1. C. Riedinger, M. Netscher, and S. Zimmermann, “Organizational Capabilities for Business-IT Integration in Digital Enterprises,” in Proceedings of the 19th FedCSIS, 2024, http://dx.doi.org/10.15439/2024F9800.
  2. LeanIX GmbH, “LeanIX IT Cost Optimization Report 2023,” 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.leanix.net/en/download/it-cost-optimization-survey-2023
  3. Gartner Inc., “Leveraging the BRM role is all about business value,” 2018.
  4. S. De Haes, W. Van Grembergen, A. Joshi, and T. Huygh, Enterprise Governance of Information Technology. in Management for Professionals. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020.
  5. C. Riedinger, M. Huber, and N. Prinz, “Factors for Effective Communication of IT Costs and IT Business Value,” in Proceedings of the 18th FedCSIS, Sep. 2023, pp. 677–687, http://dx.doi.org/10.15439/2023F7224.
  6. AXELOS Limited, Ed., ITIL Foundation, ITIL 4 edition, 1st edition, TSO, 2019.
  7. T. Tucker, “Technology Business Management: The Four Value Conversations CIOs Must Have With Their Businesses,” 2016.
  8. Y. E. Chan and B. H. Reich, “IT alignment: what have we learned?,” J Inf Technol, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 297–315, 2007, http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/pal-grave.jit.2000109.
  9. J. C. Henderson and H. Venkatraman, “Strategic alignment: Leveraging IT for transforming organizations,” IBM Systems Journal, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 472–484, 1993, http://dx.doi.org/10.1147/sj.382.0472.
  10. J. Cybulski and S. Lukaitis, “The impact of communications and understanding on the success of business/IT alignment,” presented at the ACIS 2005 Proceedings, Deakin University, 2005.
  11. J. Luftman, “Assessing Business-IT Alignment Maturity,” CAIS, vol. 4, 2000, http://dx.doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.00414.
  12. ISACA, COBIT 2019®. Schaumburg: ISACA, 2018.
  13. C. E. Oehlhorn, C. Maier, S. Laumer, and T. Weitzel, “Human resource management and its impact on strategic business-IT alignment: A literature review and avenues for future research,” The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, vol. 29, no. 4, p. 101641, Dec. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2020.101641.
  14. W. B. Helouani, “Business-it alignment: the emerging role of it business partner,” EAESP FGV, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/10438/31794
  15. P. Weill and J. W. Ross, IT Governance - How Top Performers Manage IT Decision Rights for Superior Results. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2004. [Online]. Available: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/kxp/detail.action?docID=5181980
  16. S. D’Onofrio, “IT-Business-Partner-Management: Begriffsklärung, Abgrenzung und Business-Alignment,” HMD, vol. 62, no. 2, pp. 259–273, Apr. 2025, http://dx.doi.org/10.1365/s40702-025-01178-4.
  17. A. Eckhardt and C. Rosenkranz, “Lost in translation?!: the need for a boundary spanner between business and it,” in Proceedings of the SIGMIS-CPR ’10: 2010 Computer Personnel Research Conference, Vancouver BC Canada: ACM, May 2010, pp. 75–82, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/1796900.1796930.
  18. C. Riedinger, C. Rentrop, M. Huber, and S. Zimmermann, “Partnerschaft auf Augenhöhe: Faktoren für eine erfolgreiche Gestaltung der IT-Business-Partner-Organisation,” HMD, vol. 62, no. 2, pp. 274–293, Apr. 2025, http://dx.doi.org/10.1365/s40702-025-01151-1.
  19. SFIA Foundation, “SFIA – The Skills Framework for the Information Age (Version 9).” 2024. Accessed: Feb. 06, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://sfia-online.org
  20. Scaled Agile, Inc., “Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe),” Scaled Agile Inc., 2025. Accessed: Jan. 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://scaledagileframework.com
  21. C. Grawe, Business/IT-Integration: Neuausrichtung der IT-Funktion in Organisationen im Kontext der Digitalisierung. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-40132-0.
  22. S. Murer, B. Bonati, and F. J. Furrer, Managed Evolution. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2011, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01633-2.
  23. C. Rentrop, IT-Governance - Erfolgsfaktor der digitalen Transformation. Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 2023.
  24. C. Gellweiler, “IT architects and IT-business alignment: a theoretical review,” Procedia Computer Science, vol. 196, pp. 13–20, 2022, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2021.11.067.
  25. I. Aguilar Alonso, J. Carrillo Verdún, and E. Tovar Caro, “Description of the structure of the IT demand management process framework,” International Journal of Information Management, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 1461–1473, Feb. 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2016.05.004.
  26. R. Foorthuis and S. Brinkkemper, “Best Practices for Business and Systems Analysis in Projects Conforming to Enterprise Architecture,” Enterprise Modelling and Information Systems Architectures, vol. Vol 3, pp. 36-47 Pages, Dec. 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.18417/EMISA.3.1.4.
  27. U. Flick, Triangulation. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, 2011, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-531-92864-7.
  28. R. K. Yin, Case study research: design and methods, 5. edition. Los Angeles London New Delhi Singapore Washington, DC: SAGE, 2014.
  29. M. Saunders, Research Methods for Business Students, 8th ed. Harlow, UK: Pearson, 2019.
  30. P. Baxter and S. Jack, “Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study Design and Implementation for Novice Researchers,” TQR, Jan. 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2008.1573.
  31. M. Meuser and U. Nagel, “Das Experteninterview ‐ konzeptionelle Grundlagen und methodische Anlage,” in Methoden der vergleichenden Politik- und Sozialwissenschaft, S. Pickel, G. Pickel, H.-J. Lauth, and D. Jahn, Eds., Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, 2009, pp. 465–479.
  32. J. M. Corbin and A. L. Strauss, Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory, 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2015.
  33. C. Riedinger, S. Zimmermann, C. Rentrop, and C. Felden, “The Operationalization of Strategic Alignment: Driving IT Value through Business-IT Dialogues,” in Proceedings of the 58th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Hawaii, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/10125/109571