IDG Contributor Network: Measuring business-IT convergence

We have discussed in prior articles the importance of aligning the business and IT (see "What Do We Mean When We Say 'Business-It Alignment'?"). We also said that we want to move away from calling it "alignment" and use the word "convergence." However one of the questions I get from my clients is, "How do I go about measuring this alignment?"The challenge has been that business and IT often do not communicate with each other. Business people speak in their language, and IT doesn't understand wha