Which of the following is MOST important for an IT strategy committee to ensure before initiating the development of an IT strategic plan?

The fundamental purpose of an IT strategic plan is to align IT efforts with overall business goals. Therefore, the IT strategy committee must first thoroughly understand the current and future business needs and objectives to ensure that the IT plan is relevant, supportive, and adds value to the business.

While a risk assessment is important, it's typically an input or an ongoing process that helps refine the strategy, not the most important prerequisite for initiating the plan itself, which is understanding business needs.

Independence of committee members is not a universal requirement; often, strong business representation is crucial for effective IT strategy.

While desirable, full business support for specific IT initiatives is an outcome of a well-aligned strategy; understanding overall business needs comes before developing the initiatives.