The Strategic Alignment of Information Systems Strategy of Ghanaian Banks

Abstract

Information Technology researchers, consultants, and executives have universally asserted that firms should integrate information technology with overall strategic planning efforts. Banks should continuously align their IS strategy with their overall business strategy: one should complement the other. The two strategies must not be in conflict but rather in harmony. The purpose of this study is to determine the strategic alliance of information system strategy of six banks in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The specific objectives of the study are to determine whether the information systems strategy is aligned to the business strategy and also to determine the types of business strategy and information systems strategy typology deploy by the banks. This study adopted the survey methodology. The cases investigated were three local banks and three foreign banks. The six banks used were named Bank A, Bank B, Bank C, Bank D, Bank E and Bank F for the sake of anonymity. The populations for the study were the strategic and the operational staff. All the strategic staff and the operational staff were considered at their Head Offices in Greater Accra region in Ghana. With adherence to a survey research methodology, this study used the questionnaire instrument. The total number of questionnaire returned was 248 out of 410, presenting a response rate of 60.5%. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to analyze the data representing the responses in tables and charts showing simple frequencies and percentages. It is obvious from the findings that, all the banks have their information systems strategy well aligned to their business strategy. All the foreign banks (Bank D, Bank E, and Bank F) and the local banks (Bank A, Bank B, and Bank C) have information systems strategy fully aligned to the business strategy. Bank A, Bank E and Bank F use the same prospector business strategy whilst Bank B and Bank D also use the same analyzer business strategy. Bank C is the only bank that uses defender business strategy. As an academic work, this research has contributed to already existing knowledge in the area of study. The benefits of information system strategy to banks discovered by the study would be beneficial to the banking industry. The information system model recommended at the end of the study would also assist the banking industry to gain competitive advantage in modern banking.

Keywords: Information Systems Strategy, Strategic Information Systems, Strategy alignment, Banks, Ghana