What Makes for Good IT Governance?
Source: L. Gary Boomer
The following excerpts (and paraphrased sections) are printed, with permission, from Boomer Consulting, Inc.
Your firm should be able to answer the following questions if it expects to compete in a rapidly changing digital environment:- Is your firm making the right kind of IT investments?
- Does your firm understand the CIO [Chief Integration Officer] role?
- Do you evaluate employees against the backdrop of a strategic plan?
- Are the right people doing the right jobs?
Most firms are not investing in new technologies and training. Your investment priorities should include:
- Digital content management.
- Document search, version control and check-in/out capabilities.
- Web access and remote working technologies.
- Portals (Web-based service centers for clients).
- Management.
- Business intelligence.
- Integration.
- Security and privacy.
The role of the CIO is more than technical. It includes:
- Marketing and communications.
- Project management.
- Budgeting.
- Human resources.
- Business savvy.
IT projects should be led by firm leaders with IT support.
Key functions of the CIO include:- Leadership and vision.
- Preparation of a one-page IT plan.
- Membership on the management team and technology committee.
- Development and implementation of the technology plan.
- Directing projects.
- Providing security systems and a business continuation plan.
- Compliance with licensing agreements.
- Management of a help desk.
- Support the firm’s training and learning coordinator.
- Identification and evaluation of new technologies.
For the complete article, click here.
From Boomer Consulting, Inc., Manhattan, Kansas, www.boomer.com, March 2008.
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