It and business alignment challenges in utility companies: the case of Tanzania electric supply company limited (TANESCO)

It has been a common experience for companies to be dissatisfied from the return they get out of their IT investments. Often IT has been blamed for poor service delivery; this is coupled with the failure of it to meet some critical business requirement and being non-responsive to immediate demands from the business. There are several challenges to be dealt with in order to bring about a sustainable level of alignment between IT and the business functions. The researcher evaluated challenges associated with three elements of alignment maturity, namely Communication, IT Governance, and Partnership at TANESCO’s head office. This descriptive type of study was carried out under the auspices of the positivism research philosophy. The study mostly used quantitative data in carrying out the analysis of the responses. Questionnaires were used to conduct the survey to a sample of 120 respondents with a response rate of 70%. The Software Package for Statistical Sciences (SPSS) was used to perform data analysis, with a multiple regression model for hypotheses testing. Results showed that there is a strong relationship between the three elements and the level of alignment maturity in utility companies like TANESCO. It was also learnt that general level of alignment maturity at TANESCO is moderately effective, which means that something must be done in order to realize value for money from IT investments. It is recommended that deliberate efforts should be directed in bringing about harmony between IT and business strategies, for an ideal alignment maturity level in TANESCO.