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Memorandum To: From: Date: Re:
TBD Jetmir Troshani Date goes here
Information Management & Auditing Outline
Introduction Background Discussion Recommendations Advantages
Introduction Following our meeting on Monday, 30 January 2012 you requested information about recommendations on whether the enterprise 22 person agency needs additional IT controls. I would now like to present these particulars. Background The importance of IT governance framework is to address the structure of management, authorities and responsibilities of department Heads as well as Agencies and their CIOs (Chief Information Officers) for purposes of acquiring, planning, securing, managing and operating assets as well as IT systems in the agency. It is worth noting however, that not all the duties and responsibilities of Chief Information Officers are inclusive in the adoption of an IT governance framework. Most, if not all, firm activities are affected in one way or another by IT, with an increasingly tangible effect to end users.
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Discussion For any business enterprise to be successful, the need to maximize the value of investment related to Information Technology as well as the need for IT governance cannot be overemphasized (Kaczmarczyk, 2007). It therefore, goes without saying that in an effort to attain a successful business enterprise, a viable IT governance framework must be implemented. According to Carrow (2009), implementing effective IT governance framework provides a clear direction in the business enterprise and ensures that investments in IT support the business. In addition, effective IT governance creates value for the business in relation to objectives of the enterprise. Moreover, it addresses investment complete life cycle not to mention that it offers an effective means through which an enterprise can manage change. Recommendations The Agency or Department should have a designated level of executive CIO (Chief Information Officers) whose responsibility should be to report to the organizational head and other responsibility set out under the relevant regulations and statutes. The ultimate responsibility for the delivery, governance and management of business programs and IT mission should be tagged to the Agency CIO within the department. This would ensure that all the responsibilities are met in an effective operative means (Carrow, 2008). The lead agency official shall be the Agency CIO with the authority to evaluate, plan, select, as well as control acquisition and investments of Information Technology and Information Systems. The lead agency shall ensure that all mission policies, IT related programs, processes and Agency business are in line with the Architecture of
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Federal Enterprise. They will also be charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the business enterprise architecture data is accessible and visible to other mission partners and federal agencies to enable the organization leverage those resources (Clay, 2008). Finally the lead agency will also ensure that the Information Technology related systems, services and assets acquired and those already existing in the organization do not duplicate unnecessarily and are managed and planned for throughout their life span. Advantages Indeed, the difference between business enterprises which manage their Information Technology and those that do not is very clear. The introduction and certainly implementation of manageable IT and IT related system in the business is a clear indication of an effectively run business enterprise (Bicket, 2008). A well managed and implemented IT Governance provides an enterprise with a framework that will ensure that Information Technology and IT systems that is aligned with the business maximize the business benefits, recourses are responsibly used, and IT risks can be appropriately managed (Mallie, 2011).
The IT Manager
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References Bicket, D. (2008). Software and IT asset management standard: benefits for organizations and individuals. Retrieved on 07/ 02/2012 from: http://jjconline.net/abxqrtln368/PAD713/docs/week6_7/2_Benefits_of_SAMITAM_Standards.pdf Carrow, J. (2008). Information Technology, Unisys. Retrieved on 07/ 02/2012 from: httpdocs://jjconline.net/abxqrtln368/PAD713//week6_7/CobiT_4.1_Brochure.pdf Carrow, J. (2009). The comprehensive IT governance framework that addresses every aspect of IT and integrates all of the main global IT standards. Retrieved on 07/ 02/2012 from: http://jjconline.net/abxqrtln368/PAD713/docs/week6_7/COBIT_4.1_Framework.p df Clay, J. (2008). Information Technology Management Structure and Governance Framework. Retrieved on 07/ 02/2012 from: http://jjconline.net/abxqrtln368/PAD713/docs/week6_7/1_OMB_Memorandum_M -09-02.pdf Kaczmarczyk, S. (2007). Asset management. Retrieved on 07/ 02/2012 from: http://jjconline.net/abxqrtln368/PAD713/docs/week6_7/3_GSA_Asset_Mgt.pdf
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Mallie, A. (2011). IT asset management: The Government’s SAM Challenges. Retrieved on 07/ 02/2012 from: http://jjconline.net/abxqrtln368/PAD713/docs/week6_7/5_GovtSAM.pdf