It is hard to overemphasize the importance of communication to business-IT alignment. Without communication -- good communication -- all is lost. Business will follow its path, IT will follow its path, and ne'er the twain shall meet. With communication, the exchange of goals and ideas leads to mutual understanding, which provides the basis for coordinated business-IT plans. Since business-IT alignment can't even get off the ground without this step, there is no question that the importance of communication is of the highest order.