Purpose:Using a conceptual framework of Sledgianowski and Luftman (2001), this paper empirically investigates how Japanese SMEs view their Strategy Alignment Maturity, Short-term Linkage, and Organizational Performance. The author examines a theoretical framework for assessing strategic alignment maturity by using a survey data of Japanese small and medium companies. The relationship between strategic alignment maturity and the mutual understanding of business and IT objectives between business

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... and IT executives is analyzed. Methodology: The methodology of this study is quantitative. Three hundred fifty-four (354) Japanese firm-level data collected have beenanalyzed using structural equation modeling. Main Findings:The results show that factors associated with IT-Business Alignment Maturityof Japanese SMEs are statistically significantly positively related to organizational performance. However, those are statistically significantly negatively related to Short-term Linkage.Although the linkage of information system plans with organizational objectives (business plans) are positively related, this study implies that the linkage of information systems and each factor of IT–Business Alignment Maturity is rather weakas previous empirical literature suggested. Applications:This study can be applied to the firm-level analyses where IT-Business Alignment Maturity and Short-term Linkage are in issue. Novelty/Originality:The author examines the relationship between strategic alignment maturity and organizational performance by using a survey data of Japanese small and medium companies.