While there is no single right way for organizations to approach improvements in IT governance, this paper proposes a comprehensive and integrated IT governance framework and roadmap which identifies the appropriate current and emerging best practice methodologies for each of the major IT Governance components that must be addressed in any approach. The framework can serve as a guideline for any organization to tailor an approach to its environment, strategies, priorities, capabilities and available resources. Thus, a balanced approach consisting of both a top down framework and roadmap together with bottom up implementation is essential. In addition, effective IT Governance is built on several critical foundations — leadership, organization and decision
rights; flexible and scalable processes and the use of enabling technology solutions.
The role technology solutions play in building an effective IT governance framework will also be discussed in the paper. Since IT governance is a journey, and represents a continuous series of processe improvements, this paper will discuss how technology solutions, when used appropriately
can deliver greater IT governance effectiveness and efficiency. In particular, we’ll look at how technology solutions can help: speed up the decision making processes, improve the quality of IT services and streamline the technical and financial stewardship of IT assets, resources and project portfolios.
The findings and implications of the research are based on extensive primary and secondary research (see references) and are grounded in a review of current and emerging industry and government best practices and select case studies of leading private and public organizations.