IT Leadership: IT Governance

Quality IT governance can give organizations a competitive edge by improving program evaluation and prioritization efficiently making decisions to spend money on the right programs. Poorly defined and executed IT governance can be bureaucratic impeding project progress and resulting in ineffective decision-making and problem solving.

IT governance creates a framework for decision-making, problem solving, communication, and investment advocacy by bringing all business stakeholders into the decision-making process. It can also help maintain alignment of IT objectives with the wider business needs by providing enhanced oversight and a connecting link between the business focus and IT management.  Working with our clients to address their unique needs, SOMOS helps harmonize IT and corporate governance structures by defining and clarifying the roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships.

The Benefits of Working with SOMOS

SOMOS consulting services help our clients create and sustain effective IT governance bodies using best practices and proven governance models. Our consultants recommend governance structures, policies, and management processes that help organizations make sound IT investment decisions. In addition to project gating and selection, SOMOS can lead development of frameworks to measure outcomes, ensure accountability, and facilitate communication among stakeholders.

Our consultants prepare business cases for quality governance, develop implementation plans for transition to IT governance, and guide organizations through the implementation. In addition, SOMOS can deliver workshops on IT governance to promote and encourage support and buy-in among IT and business stakeholders. SOMOS also offers training courses on IT governance for stakeholders, IT and business executives, and governance participants.

For organizations with IT governance structures already in place, SOMOS can assess the effectiveness and compliance with best practices, provide gap analyses, and confirm appropriate participation to realize full value from governance.

SOMOS IT Governance services include:

• Facilitated workshops
• Consulting engagements to develop IT governance model
• Executive presentations
• Training courses
• Assessments

Success Stories

Project Management for Governance Training Course
Government Department
With several new executives and a new project approvals process, this client required training on project governance for the executives overseeing projects. SOMOS developed a course to provide the essentials to successfully approve, monitor, and support projects. The course also included clarification of the sponsor's role and the essential behaviors and actions expected of them. The course included a mix of lecture, case studies, and exercises to draw upon the experiences of the attendees.

Project Management Handbook
Government Department
Our client required a document to provide its executives and project managers with the necessary guidance to manage and oversee projects. A SOMOS consultant prepared a handbook that addressed the full project lifecycle, incorporating best practices of governance and project review. SOMOS also provided mentoring and guidance to the in house management team.

Assessment of Governance of Departmental Intranet
Government Department
Over the years, this client's Intranet had grown extensively and organically, resulting in a lack of centralized control and accountability. This resulted in quality problems, security concerns, relevancy issues, and excessive maintenance costs. The CIO requested an assessment of the Intranet governance and management framework, and the resultant ability to meet users' needs. SOMOS interviewed key stakeholders, collected information, and provided recommendations in the areas of organization, responsibility, decision processes, leadership, operations, technology, and security.

Performance Accountability Integration
Government Department
The client sought best practice decision-making processes and tools to support its Operations Branch. A SOMOS consultant documented the processes and information requirements related to project gating and governance, in order to facilitate proper investment oversight and alignment with other departmental requirements. SOMOS also developed templates for business cases, project benefits, and costing templates. Finally, SOMOS helped promote awareness and use of the new procedures through on-site guidance and coaching of the stakeholders.