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Dhaliwal, J., Onita, C. G., Poston, R., & Zhang, X. (2011). Alignment within the software
development unit: Assessing structural and relational dimensions between developers
and testers. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 20(4), 323-342.
As information technology (IT) management has become more strategic, IT management
responsibility has shifted from internally-focused to business-partnership-focused.
The literature largely takes for granted that all is well within the IT unit, however
this is not always the case (e.g., tension may exist when developers create software
functionality and testers point out its flaws). To investigate how to resolve the
tension, we argue for a refocus on the management of IT sub-units. Unless this is
done well, it will be difficult for the IT unit to continue to add strategic value.
Using theoretical concepts from strategic business-IT alignment, we test a research
model through a survey of developers and testers. Results suggest that relational
but not structural dimensions influence IT sub-units alignment.
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