The determining factor in whether a company successfully achieves its targets is the use of information from a wide range of sources. In this context information technology (IT) plays a supporting role and is intended to guarantee the corresponding benefits of efficient business processes so they become key competitive advantages. We can only use the words IT governance if the IT processes are consistently geared towards the business objectives. IT governance means the organizational control and monitoring of the IT in order to achieve a company’s defined business objectives. Alignment towards international standards such as COBIT, ISO 20000, CMMI or TOGAF provides for uniform understanding both internally and externally as well as efficient and effective implementation of the standards demanded by compliance.
The objective is to orientate the IT towards the corporate objectives and processes, as part of an on-going process, or respectively to provide the company with optimum support in achieving the business objectives with the help of IT services, to utilize the IT resources in a responsible and sustainable way as well as to minimize and deal with the IT risks to optimum effect. To this end it is recommended that a coordinated set of rules be drawn up in the form of policies, plans, processes and specific detailed documentation. These represent binding standards in the performance of the day-to-day business. The focus of attention should be placed both on the relevant individual aspects as well as on the development and implementation of an IT governance strategy. It pays in most cases to consult a specialist partner who will contribute an outside, neutral viewpoint as well as experience gained from many other IT governance projects and who possesses the corresponding know-how in the area of IT service management. |
