2.1. IT decision makers
The IT decision makers role represents the decision-making capacity of the IT organisation. The diagram below shows the relationship between the IT decision makers and system governance.
IT decision makers instruct IT activity, which provides and supports IT systems. System governance completes a feedback loop between IT systems and IT decision makers.
- The IT decision makers set the direction for system governance. This reflects the objectives the IT decision makers have for the IT systems, such as cost reduction, risk reduction, compliance, and so forth.
- System governance gathers facts about the IT systems, and assesses them against the objectives.
- System governance provides guidance back to the IT decision makers, to help them decide what IT activity is required to bring the IT systems closer to their objectives.
The separation of responsibilities between IT decision makers and system governance is important. It makes sure that system governance gives impartial advice based solely on the objectives and on facts about the IT systems.
The system governance sponsor is responsible for the flows between the IT decision makers and system governance. They gather the objectives from the IT decision makers, and ensure that these are correctly interpreted by system governance. They present the guidance back from system governance, and ensure that this is fed into the decision making process.
The IT decision makers have the following responsibilities:
- During business case, the IT decision makers decide whether to adopt system governance.
- During initiation, the IT decision makers agree the terms of reference for system governance.
- During each annual review, the IT decision makers receive guidance from system governance, and provide feedback on these.
- The IT decision makers are consulted during the planning of major reviews, as these have an impact across the entire IT organisation.
This document refers to the IT decision makers as if they are a single group. Most organisations have more complicated decision-making processes, spread across numerous groups and individuals, sometimes without a clear split of responsibility between them. The system governance sponsor is responsible for navigating this, leaving the system governance process to focus on measurement without being distracted by the complexity of the decision making processes.