Towards a Mechanism-Based Perspective on Business-IT Alignment

Business-IT Alignment (BITA) is a critical factor in enhancing organizational performance, innovation capacity, and competitive advantage. Despite decades of research, BITA remains a persistent challenge, particularly in an era of rapid technological change and digital transformation. This study undertakes a hermeneutic literature review to explore various perspectives on BITA within Information Systems (IS) research. The study identifies eight key perspectives: end-state, process, hybrid, coevolutionary, aligning practices, gestalt, dynamic capabilities, and systems dynamics.