A holistic information systems strategy for organisational management (HISSOM), applied to Europe's largest bancassurer

Co-ordination and alignment of Information Systems Strategy, ISS, with organisational strategy has become key to competitive success, as the ramifications of the Internet has shifted control from information providers to information users. Yet, despite over 40 years of research, there remains no established, practical SISP method for strategic alignment, due primarily to a failure to achieve alignment of the interests of the perspective groups that influence organisational direction. HISSOM is a practical, holistic model that coordinates the needs of key organisational influence groups, and aligns the organisation's ISS with its agreed needs. HISSOM is applied to the first electronic commerce enabled strategy of Europe's largest bancassurer. The impact of the organisation's strategy on its IS capability, and the emergence of IS-led initiatives, are highlighted. The five HISSOM perspectives, of external stakeholders, executive management, business management, IS management responsible for IS strategy, and the wider IS function, and their roles HISSOM, are also described. The applicability of HISSOM, and its relative success is described.