Taxonomy of organizational alignment: implications for data-driven sustainable performance of firms and supply chains

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify, characterize, classify and conceptualize different perspectives onstrategic alignmentstill in use, propose a taxonomy and definitions that allow understanding the various coexisting concepts, as well as investigate the implications of strategic alignment for data-driven sustainable performance of firms and supply chains. Design/methodology/approach Bibliographic review was used. Findings The taxonomy proposes two classes ofstrategic alignment: (1)Align- more rigorous types of alignment: structure alignment, strategic congruence and strategy alignment; (2)Fit- less rigorous types of alignment: contingency strategic adjustment, strategic coalignment and strategic consistency. Companies are accumulating large amounts of data, which relevance varies widely. The strategic alignment can define criteria to select only the data that have strategic value, which restricts the amount of data to be analyzed. Each of the six types of strategic alignment is appropriate for a given situation in companies and/or supply chains. Research limitations/implications The limitations stem from the exclusive use of the taxonomy of strategic alignment, without considering the most diverse perspectives of strategy. Practical implications Decision makers will be able to identify more objectively which classes of data should be explored in each situation. Social implications Theoretical implications - The taxonomy proposal and the definition of each of the strategic alignment perspectives solve generalized misunderstandings resulting from the lack of a clear delimitation between the perspectives and the conceptual divergence between authors, who use them as equivalent or synonymous. Originality/value From 1961 to 2019, no paper was found proposing taxonomy, typology, systematization, ranking, distribution or classification of strategic alignment. The strategic alignment can define criteria to select, within the large amount of data accumulated by the company, only those that have strategic value, what restricts the quantity of data to be analyzed and facilitates the decision of the leaders.

Automated summary

This paper proposes a taxonomy of strategic alignment, categorizing them into two classes: Align and Fit. The strategic alignment helps companies select data of strategic value, which restrains the quantity of data analyzed and facilitates decision-making.