ACOSM 2010: Benchmarking: Measuring the Unmeasurable: Governance of IT

Measuring the Unmeasurable: Governance of IT

Mark Toomey, Infonomics Pty Ltd

Abstract

Governance of IT is recognised as a key discipline in gaining value from investment in new systems and in assuring ongoing business performance. Many organizations have invested heavily in efforts to improve their governance of IT, but the long term trends in IT project success and operational breakdowns indicate that this investment has had little impact to date. ISO 38500, an Australian innovation, provides a new and different frame of reference for governance of IT, and a new perspective from which to measure governance effectiveness. Assessments over a five year period point to key issues which have not been resolved by the majority of governance investments to date. To add further flavour, this session will put into context the results of an international survey conducted early in 2010 to establish the status and direction of the marketplace in terms of understanding and closing the gaps in governance of IT.

Key Points

• The origins and key elements of ISO 38500 – Corporate Governance of Information Technology
• A technique for assessing conformance to ISO 38500, and the performance of existing governance arrangements
• How Australia compares to the rest of the world in governance of IT
• The gap between what does happen and what should happen in governance of IT
• The directions for further development of Australian and international standards in governance of IT.

Biography

Mark Toomey is the managing director of Infonomics Pty Ltd. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), a senor member of the Australian Computer Society (MACS – Senior), a member of the Standards Australia Technical Committee on governance and management of IT, an Australian delegate to the ISO Working Group on governance of IT and author of the book, "Waltzing with the Elephant: A comprehensive guide to directing and controlling IT”.