Resistance from business leaders indicates a lack of alignment between IT decisions and business priorities. The CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition emphasizes that collaboration with business stakeholders is critical to ensure that IT portfolio decisions reflect business objectives, especially when resources are constrained.

Extract from CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition (Domain 4: Strategic Management):"When faced with resource constraints, the CIO should collaborate with business stakeholders to prioritize the IT portfolio based on business objectives. This ensures that limited resources are allocated to initiatives that deliver the greatest value and alignment with enterprise goals." (Approximate reference: Domain 4, Section on Portfolio Management)

Collaborating with the business to prioritize the IT portfolio (option D) directly addresses the resistance by involving business leaders in decision-making, ensuring that IT services align with their priorities and reducing conflict.

Why not the other options?

A. Engage an external consultant to document IT’s alignment with the business: An external consultant may provide insights but does not address the immediate need for collaboration and buy-in from business leaders.

B. Perform a cost-benefit analysis and communicate results: While analysis is useful, it does not involve business leaders in the prioritization process, which is key to resolving resistance.

C. Reallocate budget from maintenance projects in the portfolio: Reallocation is a unilateral action that may exacerbate resistance if not done in collaboration with the business.