Put simply, IT governance is a collection policies, strategies and objectives aimed at enabling IT to better serve the business.
IT governance doesn't exist in a vacuum though. As a component of corporate governance, if it's not sufficiently defined and authorised to act in the cross-functional capacity IT exists today, negative impacts on key areas such as efficiency and compliance become more pronounced.
Good governance plays a key role in resolving these cyclical problems through addressing the underlying causes.
As a basic example, having a documented position on data governance can promote efficiency and agility through removing authority and discoverability bottlenecks. This benefits strategic and operational activities alike, both now and into the future.
Our approach to governance is based on the principles of ISO 38500 with a specific focus on efficiency and compliance.
Governance shapes downstream activities such as architecture and implementations, and allows for ongoing evaluation and refinement.
Not having the necessary policies and objectives in place increases the likelihood that the architecture ends up being technology-led rather than business-led, in addition to cyclical issues as noted in the previous example.
Identifying and addressing these gaps through simplified standards-based policy allows everyone to refocus on the business' mission.
