Management summary
System governance is a technique for managing IT systems. It significantly reduces cost and risk.
System governance delivers benefits in many different situations. It can be used for single tactical interventions, or for broad strategic initiatives.
Because it is is so versatile, it can be difficult to understand how to start with system governance, or how to progress its use. It can be difficult to understand what the benefits will be.
The system governance maturity model (SGMM) measures how far an organisation has adopted system governance. It helps organisations understand where to start with system governance, how to progress to the next stage, and what the benefits will be.
Table 1 summarises the SGMM.
At low levels of maturity, system governance reduces short term and long term risks for individual systems.
At medium levels of maturity, system governance delivers significant cost savings as it is applied more consistently to more systems.
At high levels of maturity, system governance strengthens the business-IT relationship. It helps the broader organisation better understand the contribution of the IT department. It gives senior executives meaningful control over IT policies. It helps the IT department build the business case for IT investment.
The SGMM shows that system governance delivers significant benefits to all organisations, whatever their current level of maturity.
Table 1. System Governance Maturity Model
|
Level |
What is reviewed |
Who sets criteria |
Additional benefits |
Priority for improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5. Strategic |
All systems |
Whole business |
|
|
|
4. Consolidated |
All systems |
IT department |
|
|
|
3. Committed |
All systems |
IT work group |
|
|
|
2. Standardised |
Important systems |
IT work group |
|
|
|
1. Ad hoc |
Important systems |
Reviewer |
|
|
|
0. Non existent |
Nothing |
Nobody |
|
|