What's the best way to manage IT governance?
IT governance is the process of aligning IT resources and activities with the strategic goals and objectives of an organization. It involves defining the roles, responsibilities, policies, standards, and metrics that guide IT decision-making and performance. IT governance is essential for ensuring that IT delivers value, supports innovation, manages risks, and complies with regulations. But how can you manage IT governance effectively and efficiently? Here are some best practices to consider.
Before you can improve your IT governance, you need to understand where you are and where you want to go. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of your IT capabilities, processes, structures, and outcomes. Identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your IT function. Compare your current state with the best practices and benchmarks in your industry and domain. Define your IT vision, mission, and goals, and align them with your business strategy and stakeholder expectations.
A governance framework is a set of principles, policies, standards, and guidelines that define how IT decisions are made and implemented. It also specifies the roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders involved in IT governance, such as the board, the executive management, the IT department, the business units, and the external partners. A governance framework should be clear, consistent, flexible, and adaptable to changing needs and circumstances. It should also be communicated and enforced across the organization.
A governance structure is a set of committees, boards, teams, and groups that oversee and execute the IT governance framework. It ensures that IT decisions are aligned with the strategic objectives, priorities, and values of the organization. It also facilitates collaboration, coordination, and communication among the various stakeholders. A governance structure should be designed according to the size, complexity, and maturity of your IT function. It should also be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect the evolving IT environment.
To manage IT governance effectively, you need to track and evaluate the results and impacts of your IT activities and investments. You need to define and collect relevant metrics and indicators that measure IT efficiency, effectiveness, quality, value, risk, and compliance. You also need to establish and report on IT performance targets and objectives, and compare them with the actual outcomes and benchmarks. You should use various tools and methods to monitor and measure IT performance, such as dashboards, scorecards, audits, surveys, and feedback.
IT governance is not a one-time project, but a continuous process of improvement and innovation. You need to identify and implement best practices and standards that enhance your IT capabilities and processes. You also need to foster a culture of learning and innovation that encourages IT staff and stakeholders to seek new opportunities, solve problems, and adopt new technologies. You should leverage various frameworks and methodologies to improve and innovate IT processes, such as ITIL, COBIT, Agile, DevOps, and Lean.
IT governance is not only about IT, but also about the people who use, manage, and influence IT. You need to engage and empower your IT stakeholders to ensure their participation, collaboration, and satisfaction. You need to communicate and consult with them regularly to understand their needs, expectations, and feedback. You also need to educate and train them on the IT governance framework, structure, and processes. You should create and support a network of IT champions, advocates, and leaders who can promote and sustain IT governance across the organization.