Isaca COBIT-2019 - COBIT 2019 Foundation

The strategy archetype is a design factor that describes how an enterprise uses information and technology to achieve its goals and objectives. There are six strategy archetypes defined in COBIT 2019: customer intimacy, product leadership, operational excellence, compliance-driven, data-driven, and innovation-driven. Each archetype has different implications for the governance and management of information and technology in terms of focus areas, processes, practices, roles, structures, and metrics. The best approach when determining which strategy archetype most closely aligns with an enterprise’s own strategy is to select the one that reflects the enterprise’s information and technology risk profile, which is another design factor that describes how an enterprise identifies, assesses, responds to, monitors, and reports on information and technology risks. The risk profile helps to determine the level of risk appetite and tolerance that an enterprise has for its information and technology activities, as well as the level of control and assurance that is required for its governance framework. By selecting the strategy archetype that matches the risk profile, an enterprise can ensure that its governance framework is appropriate for its context and objectives5 References: 5: COBIT 2019 Design Guide, page 35-39 : COBIT 2019 Design Guide, page 41-43

The governance system in COBIT 2019 includes various components that support the effective management and control of enterprise IT. "Services, infrastructure, and applications" is one such component, encompassing the physical and virtual tools required for IT operations. This component ensures that the technology systems align with the enterprise's strategic objectives, as outlined in the COBIT core model (specifically in the framework sections on governance components). This is part of delivering and supporting IT services to meet business needs effectively​.

The number of business processing hours lost due to unplanned service interruptions would be an appropriate metric associated with an enterprise goal of business service continuity and availability. A metric is a quantifiable measure that is used to track and assess the status of a specific process or activity. Business service continuity and availability is one of the 17 generic enterprise goals defined by COBIT that describes the desired outcome of ensuring that critical business services are delivered at agreed levels and are resilient to disruptions. The number of business processing hours lost due to unplanned service interruptions is a metric that reflects how well this outcome is achieved.13 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives

The primary purpose of implementing an enterprise governance of information and technology (EGIT) system is to deliver stakeholder value from I&T-enabled investments. An EGIT system is a set of components that provide direction, oversight, evaluation, monitoring, assurance, etc., for an enterprise’s information and technology. An I&T-enabled investment is any initiative or project that involves the use of information and technology to create value for the enterprise. A stakeholder is a person or group that has an interest or concern in an enterprise’s activities or outcomes. The primary purpose of implementing an EGIT system is to deliver stakeholder value from I&T-enabled investments by ensuring that they align with the enterprise strategy and objectives, optimize risks and resources, achieve expected benefits and outcomes, etc.12 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance System

The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) has been used as a basis for developing guidance for the COBIT governance component of people, skills and competencies. SFIA is a globally recognized framework that describes the skills required by professionals who work with information and technology2, p. 36. References: 2: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology

The high-level program plan is a document that describes the rationale, objectives, scope, approach, benefits, costs, risks, and timeline of the EGIT implementation program. The EGIT implementation program is a program that involves designing and implementing a governance system for an enterprise using COBIT 2019. The high-level program plan provides the basis for obtaining approval, funding, resources, and support for the program from the stakeholders. The high-level program plan is an output of the “what needs to be done” phase. The “what needs to be done” phase is the fourth phase of the governance implementation roadmap, which involves defining the target state of information and technology governance in an enterprise that is aligned with its strategy, objectives, and stakeholder needs. This phase also involves identifying the gaps and issues that need to be addressed to achieve the target state, setting the improvement targets and priorities, developing a detailed business case and a high-level program plan for implementing a governance system using COBIT 2019. By developing a high-level program plan as an output of the “what needs to be done” phase, an enterprise can ensure that it has a clear and realistic roadmap for designing and implementing a governance system using COBIT 2019, that it has defined the expected outcomes, benefits, value, etc., from doing so, that it has considered the relevant risks, costs, resources, etc., involved in doing so, that it has obtained stakeholder buy-in and commitment for doing so, etc.

The flexibility of COBIT design factors benefits an enterprise by allowing users to tailor the framework to align with specific enterprise needs. COBIT is a comprehensive governance and management framework for information and technology that helps enterprises to achieve their goals and create value. COBIT design factors are characteristics or aspects of an enterprise that influence the design and implementation of a governance system. They include factors such as enterprise size, industry sector, risk profile, regulatory environment, sourcing model, etc. The flexibility of COBIT design factors benefits an enterprise by allowing users to tailor the framework to align with specific enterprise needs by providing guidance on how to customize and adapt the COBIT components (such as processes, practices, goals, metrics, etc.) based on the design factors.14 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

The principle that the governance framework should allow for flexibility in addressing new issues is an important principle of a proper governance framework. A governance framework is a conceptual model or structure that defines the key elements, relationships, and principles of a governance system. A proper governance framework should follow certain principles or guidelines that ensure its effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with the enterprise goals and objectives. The principle that the governance framework should allow for flexibility in addressing new issues is an important principle of a proper governance framework because it helps to ensure that the governance system can adapt to changes in the internal or external environment, stakeholder needs, business objectives, etc.13 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

 In most cases, management of the enterprise is the responsibility of the executive management team. The executive management team consists of senior managers who are accountable for implementing the strategies and policies set by the board or other governing body. They are also responsible for planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and reporting on the enterprise’s operations3. The executive management team may delegate some of their management responsibilities to other managers or staff, but they remain ultimately accountable for the outcomes4. References: 3: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, page 28 4: COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives, page 21

 According to the COBIT 2019 Process Assessment Model, a common characteristic of process capability levels 2 to 5 is that the process’s description is well-defined. This means that the process has a clear purpose, scope, inputs, outputs, activities, roles, responsibilities, interfaces, controls, measures, practices and procedures that are documented and maintained. A well-defined process enables consistent executionand improvement across the enterprise.2, p. 16 References: 2: COBIT 2019 Process Assessment Model: Using COBIT 2019