THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA
FACULTY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (FSTES)
PROGRAME: MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN INFORMANTION TECHNOLOGY
MANAGEMENT
COURSE: IT STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND LEADERSHIP
COURSE CODE : OIM 603
STUDENT NAME : TAJIRI MELUSORI
REG. NO. : PG202302517
WORK TYPE : INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT, “THREE”
SUBMISION DATE : JANUARY 26, 2025
QUESTIONS
QN. 01.
What are drivers of IT Governance in the described organization and how are they
addressed in the case study?
ANSWER.
What is IT governance?
This is the framework that provides a formal structure for organizations to ensure IT investments
support business objectives.
As addressed in the case study the drivers of IT governance in an organization are as follows
1. Value delivery:
The IT Managers / Directors has made it sure that the IT is delivering values to the rest of the
business by providing services in a transparent manner , flexibility, ease of interaction and
certainty to improve revenue collection and cost-effectiveness without increasing the tax rates.
2. Strategic alignment:
The commissioner general and the board has ensured that IT departments aligns with all aspects
of their organization including its departments, teams, and resources are properly arranged and
working together to achieve its defined strategy or objectives.
This includes aligning the organization’s mission, vision, and operational activities with its most
strategic goals
3. Performance management:
The IT departments/IT Managers has managed to plan, supervise, and improve the performance
of individuals, teams, and organization by identifying performance goals, measuring results,
providing feedback, and managing performance development and improvement
4. Risk management:
The commissioner general and the board has formulated a systematic approach to identifying,
assessing, prioritizing, and mitigating risks, providing organization with a structured approach to
decision-making and risk management.
5. Resource management:
They managed the practice of effectively planning, allocating, and controlling the utilization of
IT resources to achieve organizational goals.
QN.02.
What are other IT governance structures, processes and relational mechanisms in the case
study?
ANSWER
IT government structures.
Is a formal framework that helps organizations align their IT strategies with overall business
objectives. It ensures that IT investments support business goals and produce measurable results.
In the case study, The IT governance Structure on that organization is of three categories
namely
The Top level
Board Chairman
Commissioner General
The Middle level
The Secretariat
Director of ICT
The Bottom level
The deputy commissioner General
All Heads of Department
Deputy Directors of ICT
Key Line Managers
Members based on relevant Expertise
IT governance processes.
This involves decision-making and oversight to ensure that IT activities align with business
goals. These processes include:
Service Strategy: Aligning IT services with business objectives and customer needs.
Service Design: Designing efficient and effective IT services.
Service Transition: Implementing and transitioning IT services into operation.
Service Operation: Managing IT services on a day-to-day basis IT governance frameworks
typically include components such as policies, procedures, controls, and metrics
Relational mechanisms are part of IT governance mechanisms that help to attain and
sustain business-IT alignment.
These mechanisms include
Shared understanding on business/IT goals
Shared learning and dialogues
Informal meetings between business/IT management
Cross- functional business/IT training and partnership rewards and incentives
Motivational rewards and incentives
QN. 03.
One of the IT governance structures in place in this organization is IT Steering committee. How
is this committee contributing to the success of IT in this organization?
IT steering committee
This is a committee of senior executives that provides strategic direction for IT-related
projects. It is responsible for directing, reviewing, and approving IT strategic plans, overseeing
major initiatives, and allocating resources.
The contribution of IT steering committee to that organization is as listed below.
i. Strategic Planning: The committee participates in the development of IT strategic plans
that align with the organization's overall strategic objectives. This involves assessing
current IT capabilities, identifying future technology needs, and defining priorities and
initiatives.
ii. Project Prioritization: As part of the project portfolio management process, the
committee evaluates and prioritizes IT projects based on their alignment with strategic
goals, potential impact, resource requirements, and risks. This ensures that limited
resources are allocated to initiatives that deliver the most value.
iii. Resource Allocation: The committee oversees the allocation of resources, including
budget, manpower, and technology, to support approved IT initiatives. It ensures that
resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to achieve desired outcomes.
iv. Risk Management: Mitigating IT-related risks is a critical function of the committee.
This includes identifying potential risks associated with IT projects, assessing their
impact and likelihood, and implementing appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
v. Performance Monitoring: The committee monitors the performance of IT initiatives
against predefined metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This enables
ongoing evaluation of project progress, identification of issues or delays, and timely
intervention to address challenges.
vi. Stakeholder Communication: Effective communication with stakeholders is essential
for the success of IT initiatives. The committee ensures that relevant stakeholders are
informed about IT strategies, project updates, and decisions through regular reporting
and communication channels.
QN. 04.
This organization has been looking forward an implementation of COBIT as an IT Governance
framework. How could this implementation improve further the current situation in the described
case study organization?
ANSWER.
COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology) framework is
designed to facilitate the way information technology is developed, improved, implemented, and
managed.
COBIT establishes a clear framework for defining roles, responsibilities, and decision-making
processes within an organization’s IT environment. This clarity ensures that individuals and teams
understand their roles in the governance structure, reducing ambiguity and the potential for
miscommunication.
Enhanced decision-making process
COBIT enables organizations to make well-informed decisions about technology
investments, projects, and initiatives by providing a structured approach to IT Governance.
The framework emphasizes aligning IT decisions with overall business goals, As a results,
it ensures that IT investments contribute directly to value creation.
Effective risk management
COBIT assists organizations in identifying and managing IT-related risks that could impact
business operations and objectives. It provides a systematic method for assessing IT
processes, applications, and infrastructure risks. By addressing potential vulnerabilities and
threats, organizations can implement controls and measures to mitigate risks before they
escalate into significant issues.
Optimized business processes
COBIT bridges the gap between IT and business by aligning IT activities and goals with
the broader organizational strategy. This alignment ensures that technology initiatives are
driven by business needs and objectives, helping effectively use resources and improve the
chances of achieving success. COBIT helps organisations streamline their IT operations
by emphasising process efficiency and resource optimisation.
Enhanced performance measurement
COBIT provides a set of predefined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that help
organizations measure the effectiveness of their IT processes. These KPIs offer
quantifiable metrics for assessing the performance of various IT activities. With accurate
measurement, organizations can track progress, identify areas for improvement, and make
data-driven decisions.
Holistic approach to IT Management
COBIT integrates seamlessly with other well-known frameworks and standards, like the
Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and ISO 27001 Information Security
Management System. This integration enables organizations to adopt a cohesive approach
to IT management, leveraging the strengths of multiple frameworks while avoiding
duplication of efforts.
QN. 05.
From a general concept of IT governance point of view that you have learned in this module,
what are IT governance mechanisms that are practiced in your organization? Which ones where
also part of this case study and which ones were not and how are all improving more business
value from IT investment and overall advancement of corporate objectives of your organization.
ANSWER
What is the concept of IT governance?
IT governance is a framework that provides best practices for organizing and utilizing IT
resources separately from traditional business practices. It involves establishing policies,
defining responsibilities, and managing IT performance to ensure technology aligns with
business objectives
The IT governance mechanisms that are practiced in my organization by the use of COBIT
Framework where by:-
i. Value delivery:
The IT Managers / Directors has made it sure that the IT is delivering values to the rest
of the business by providing services in a transparent manner , flexibility, ease of
interaction and certainty to improve revenue collection and cost-effectiveness without
increasing the tax rates.
ii. Strategic alignment:
The commissioner general and the board has ensured that IT departments aligns with all
aspects of their organization including its departments, teams, and resources are properly
arranged and working together to achieve its defined strategy or objectives.
This includes aligning the organization’s mission, vision, and operational activities with
its most strategic goals
iii. Performance management:
The IT departments/IT Managers has managed to plan, supervise, and improve the
performance of individuals, teams, and organization by identifying performance goals,
measuring results, providing feedback, and managing performance development and
improvement
iv. Risk management:
The commissioner general and the board has formulated a systematic approach
to identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and mitigating risks, providing organization with a
structured approach to decision-making and risk management.
v. Resource management:
They managed the practice of effectively planning, allocating, and controlling the
utilization of IT resources to achieve organizational goals.
According to the case study, all the above IT governance mechanisms are practiced in that
organization as the IT operates and aligns with a vision or strategy set by management. They
enhance risk management, ensure compliance with regulations, improve IT performance, and
enable timely decision-making, which ultimately helps the business perform efficiently.
REFERENCES
i. Information Systems for Business and Beyond by David T. Bourgeois, PhD
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode
ii. Heo, J., & Han, I. (2003). Performance measure of information systems IS in evolving
computing environments: an empirical investigation. Information & Management,
40(4):243-256
iii. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342717173_Strategic_Information_Systems_Plan
ning
iv. IT Strategy Examples & Best Practices — IT Companies Network
v. Management for Professionals Enterprise Governance of Information Technology by
Steven De Haes Wim Van Gremberge
