Luftman’s (2000) article “Assessing Business-IT Alignment Maturity” focuses on the assessment of the maturity level of the alignment between IT and business goals. The article presents a maturity model called the Strategic Alignment Maturity (SAM) model, which builds upon the Strategic Alignment Model (SAM) developed by Henderson and Venkatraman (1999).

The SAM model comprises five levels of maturity, ranging from “initial” to “optimized,” which reflect the degree of alignment between IT and business strategy. The five levels are: (1) initial, (2) awareness, (3) alignment, (4) integration, and (5) optimization. Each level is characterized by a set of key processes and practices that reflect the maturity of the organization’s IT and business strategy alignment.

The article also provides a set of questions that can be used to assess an organization’s level of maturity in each of the five SAM levels. The questions are designed to help organizations identify strengths and weaknesses in their alignment and to guide them in developing strategies for improvement.

Luftman emphasizes the importance of measuring and assessing the maturity level of IT and business strategy alignment, as it provides a roadmap for organizations to improve their alignment and achieve greater success. By using the SAM model and the associated assessment questions, organizations can identify their current level of maturity and take steps to improve their alignment with business goals.

Overall, Luftman’s article provides a useful framework for organizations to assess and improve their IT and business strategy alignment. The SAM model and associated assessment questions provide a structured approach for organizations to measure their maturity level and develop strategies for improvement.