IT Governance

Why IT Governance is very important and become top priorities in every company strategic plan? here is the top 5 reasons:

1. Process, Technology and People getting more complex
2. IT has a pivotal role to play in improving corporate governance practices. For example in the wake of Enron and other corporate scandals, “Governance” generally has taken on even greater significance.

1. Use an IT advisory board to oversee IT strategy and policy decisions.
2. Base IT decisions on bureau and City-wide strategic plans.
3. Position the IT director as a strategist who resolves business issues with information technology.
4. Ensure that IT customer service managers possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
5. Inform bureau managers on the rationale behind IT policies and of emerging technologies.
6. Monitor and report on the progress of the IT strategic plan.
7. Focus on optimizing bureau business strategies and IT investments.
8. Wherever possible, standardize common applications across bureaus and use off-theshelf software.
9. Use consistent and methodical processes when consolidating or re-engineering systems or services.
10. Make the Help Desk’s effectiveness a priority.

Strategic IT Alignment
Strategic IT alignment ensures that IT services and investments meet business objectives that are outcomes of strategic planning. Information technology is “aligned” when IT management allocates resources and undertakes projects in coordination with the bureaus’ strategic plans and business objectives and the City’s strategic vision. Strategic IT alignment is only possible when bureaus have strategic plans and specific business objectives in place.

Value Delivery
The IT department demonstrates value to the bureaus when it completes projects as specified, on-time, and within budget. The IT department also delivers value by meeting customer expectations for basic IT services such as e-mail and internet access. To deliver value, IT expenditures and the return on IT investments need to be managed and evaluated.