Establishing an Effective IT Governance Committee

The Value of an IT Governance Committee

Question

An enterprise's board of directors has determined that IT is not sufficiently supporting its corporate objectives, and has established a committee to address this problem.

Which of the following should be the committee's FIRST action?

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

C.

When the board of directors determines that IT is not sufficiently supporting its corporate objectives, the first step the committee should take is to understand the root cause of the problem before identifying potential solutions. This is critical because without a thorough understanding of the problem, the committee cannot develop an effective solution.

Therefore, before creating any specific plan, the committee should first perform a comprehensive review and analysis of the current state of IT and identify the gaps between IT and corporate objectives. This review should consider IT capabilities, resources, and performance, as well as business objectives, strategies, and plans. Based on the analysis, the committee can then develop an understanding of the root cause of the problem and identify potential solutions.

Once the committee has a clear understanding of the root cause of the problem, they can begin developing an action plan that will address the issue. The most appropriate course of action may be to create an IT strategic plan, which will help align IT with business objectives and establish a roadmap for future IT initiatives. The strategic plan should consider the needs of the business and prioritize IT initiatives that align with business objectives.

Implementing a continuous improvement plan is also a viable option, which can help identify areas for improvement and set targets for IT performance. The continuous improvement plan should include a review of existing processes and identify areas where improvements can be made.

Developing a service level management plan may also be necessary, which would provide a framework for ensuring that IT services meet the needs of the business. This plan should include guidelines for defining, measuring, and monitoring service levels.

Finally, specifying IT human resource performance measures may also be necessary. This can help ensure that IT staff have the skills and capabilities needed to support business objectives. Human resource performance measures should include clear objectives, key performance indicators, and targets that align with business objectives.

In conclusion, before taking any action, the committee should conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the current state of IT and identify the root cause of the problem. Based on this analysis, they can develop an action plan that may include creating an IT strategic plan, implementing a continuous improvement plan, developing a service level management plan, or specifying IT human resource performance measures.