IT Architecture Renewal: Paradoxical Tensions and Business-IT Alignment

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations face the critical challenge of renewing their IT architecture while balancing competing demands. This study examines the dynamic interplay between paradoxical tensions and business-IT alignment in a global FMCG company. Through a longitudinal case study, we reveal how these tensions and alignment co-evolve, influencing each other throughout the renewal process. Our findings challenge traditional views of IT governance by demonstrating that managing these tensions requires adaptive strategies that evolve with the organization’s needs. This research contributes to the IT governance literature by offering new insights into how organizations can effectively navigate complex IT transformations, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and strategic alignment between business and IT.