Top Barriers to Aligning IT and Business Strategy—and How to Overcome Them

Let’s not sugarcoat this: most companies talk a good game about aligning IT with business strategy. Few actually do it well.

And here’s the part that stings—when that alignment is off, everything gets harder. Projects stall. Costs balloon. Teams spin their wheels. The business slows down when it should be scaling up.

I’ve sat in too many boardrooms where leaders were sure they had a tech problem, when what they really had was a disconnect problem.

So let’s name the barriers—and more importantly, let’s talk about how to fix them.

1. IT Is Treated Like a Service Desk, Not a Strategic Partner

The Barrier:

Many business leaders still view IT as the team you call when your laptop breaks—or when you need a new system fast. That mindset kills any hope of meaningful strategy alignment.

The Fix:

Shift how you engage with IT. Bring them into the conversation early—before the strategy is set. If IT understands the “why” behind the business goals, they can architect the “how” with intention, not just chase requests.

But here’s the caveat: this only works if your IT leaders understand the business of business, not just the business of IT. If they can’t speak in terms of margin, growth, customer experience, and risk—they can’t lead. Period.

2. Too Much Tech, Not Enough Clarity

The Barrier:

Shiny objects are everywhere—AI, cloud, automation. Companies chase tools, assuming they’ll unlock growth. But if the business strategy isn’t clear, no amount of tech will save you.

The Fix:

Get crystal clear on business priorities. What are you trying to achieve—not implement? Only then should you talk tech. Otherwise, you’re just buying complexity.

3. Communication Gaps Between IT and Business Leaders

The Barrier:

IT speaks in systems and architectures. Business leaders speak in outcomes and KPIs. If there’s no translation layer, you’re building two different roadmaps.

The Fix:

Bridge the gap. That might mean putting a translator in place—someone who understands both sides and can align priorities in plain business English. This isn’t fluff; it’s survival.

4. Projects Get Overengineered and Under-aligned

The Barrier:

Too many IT projects start with the assumption that more complexity equals better outcomes. So you get massive solutions… that solve the wrong problem.

The Fix:

Put every project through a ruthless filter:

• What business goal does this directly support?

• Who owns the outcome?

• How will we measure success?

  
  

If the answers aren’t simple and compelling, pause. Realignment is cheaper than rework.

5. No Accountability for Outcomes—Only Outputs

The Barrier:

IT gets praised for delivering projects on time and on budget—even if they don’t work for the business. That’s how mediocrity becomes the standard.

The Fix: Hold IT accountable for business results, not just delivery checkboxes. And give them the same visibility into success metrics as everyone else. That’s how you build true partnership.

Final Thought: Alignment Doesn’t Happen by Accident

Let’s be blunt—if aligning IT and business strategy were easy, you wouldn’t be reading this. It takes effort. It takes leadership. And it takes clarity above all else.

That’s where I come in. If your IT isn’t driving business results—or worse, you’re not even sure what it’s driving—let’s talk.

👉 Book a Strategy Session No sales pitch. Just straight answers.