Towards an enterprise architecture based strategic alignment model an evaluation of SAM based on ISO 15704

The Strategic Alignment Model (SAM) remains one of the most relevant and cited models aiming at helping managers to achieve business/IT (Information Technology) alignment. Several alternative approaches extend or improve this model. A notable stream of research suggests applying Enterprise Architecture principles complementarily or independently to the SAM. We analyze these proposals and argue that they are sometimes fuzzy and hard to compare because they all use a specific structure or vocabulary making the objectivation of their strengths and weaknesses difficult. Some common vocabulary and concepts such as those of the ISO 15704 standard on Enterprise Reference Architectures and Methodologies are needed to make their comparison rigorous. We report on our ongoing research, using this standard to analyse the SAM.