Business Quote by Richard Hunter
““The only people in any enterprise who ever describe anyone except the people who buy the enterprise’s products and services as “customers” are IT personnel. The only people in the enterprise who ever talk about “aligning with the business” are IT personnel. (Maybe the head of sales has talked about aligning her function with a new strategy or a new value proposition, or the head of manufacturing has talked about aligning with new key performance indicators—but aligning with the business?) That view can’t be good for IT. It is a legacy of the””
About This Quote
Source Article: Business Technology Review, 2022
IT staff often claim ownership of customers and alignment with business, which can create a disconnect from actual market needs.
In simple terms: IT sometimes sees itself as the customer liaison, which may be misguided.
Key Takeaway
Encourage cross‑functional dialogue to align IT with real business goals.
Themes
technology
business alignment
communication
organizational culture
customer focus
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
organizational
strategic
When to use this quote
- product development
- marketing strategy
- customer service
- IT project planning
Key Concepts
silo mentality
stakeholder engagement
value creation
Questions to Reflect On
- Who should define the customer in a company?
- How can IT better integrate with sales and marketing?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on IT for alignment can miss broader market perspectives.
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