IT Governance

The ability to make, sponsor and enforce the right IT decisions…

Some initial tone setting points need to be mentioned:

  • IT Governance is a very fundamental topic for the entire IT of a corporation; the quality of IT Governance is the main determinant for the value that IT contributes to a corporation
  •  Considerations and discussions around IT Governance can be very controversial; they touch the “soul” of a company, its culture, its leaders, its  management style
  •  Governance is about decision bodies and roles as well as their responsibilities and decision power, not about individual persons or person groups
  •  Most companies around the world share the same challenges to improve their IT Governance

IT Governance needs to answer major questions around decisions for the IT function of a corporation:

  • How are decisions made?
  • Who plays what role?
  • What processes are used?
  • How are investments authorized?
  • How does leadership work for IT?
  • Who is the “innovator” for IT?
  • How is joint ownership secured?
  • What is measured and by who?
  • What accountabilities and authorities exist?
  • What escalation procedures exist?
  • How are initiatives, projects and agreements monitored? 
  • What knowledge is required?
  • How is a fresh view injected?
  • How do we learn continuously?

The Framework

To provide the framework for the major types of IT decisions of an organization

IT Governance

For all major IT decisions: framework of guiding principles, decision bodies, decision procedures, calendar for  decisions, overall targets & KPI’s

IT Strategy

Alignment of IT with business strategy:
Focus areas for IT activities in upcoming time period; areas for new investments, continued investments and  divestment( the process of selling  an asset for whatever reason)

IT Roadmap

Time plan for major IT demands and activities in coming time period; considering all dependencies and constraints

IT Budget

Budget for individual IT demands across their life cycle and annual budget

IT Pricing & Charging Models

Prices for IT services and how they are cross-charged to internal customers

IT Demands / Investments

Approval of individual IT demands (goals, scope, requirements, time frame, IT investments and expenses for new  and existing solutions)

IT Standards

Standards for IT architecture, platforms, usage policies, etc.

IT Sourcing

Strategy for distribution of IT service provision between internal and external providers

IT Performance

IT Performance measuring and reporting, IT controlling

IT Remedy

Problem prevention measures, contingency and fallback planning, crisis and problem management