Is IT Governance primarily a function of the business, or a function of IT?
Many organizations are misled by the label. Sure, IT enables IT Governance, but the ITG discipline is a means for the business to govern IT, to ensure IT is aligned, delivering value and appropriately managing risk, resources and performance. The business must govern IT just as it must govern every other important business function, such as Finance or Human Resources.
Recently I received affirmation that some organizations are coming around to this way of thinking.
During a trip to Australia, I spent five days in three cities as the featured speaker in a seminar series entitled "Critical Components of Effective Project Management Offices (PMOs)". While there, I visited with several organizations to discuss their IT Governance challenges.
My very first meeting was with an IT leader from one of the government agencies located in Sydney. He wanted to meet with me to obtain a greater understanding of IT Governance. As he introduced me to his four colleagues, I was amazed to find that not one of them was from IT! They were all from the "business side" of the organization!
This IT leader recognized the role of the business as a partner--if not leader--of IT Governance in their organization. He was hosting this discussion to provide his peers with critical insight into their IT Governance roles and responsibilities. We had a great meeting and they are now eager to work together to achieve the enterprise-wide goals of IT Governance.
As I continue my travels evangelizing IT Governance, I expect the overwhelming majority of my audience will be members of IT. I look forward to the day when they are outnumbered by the real owners of IT Governance--the business partners IT serves.
Steve Romero, IT Governance Evangelist