Welcome to the Infonomics IT Governance LetterWelcome to the Infonomics IT Governance LetterDear Reader,
The Booz Allen Hamilton report on how the Australian Customs Service deployed its Integrated Cargo System ensures that Customs remains a centrepiece of our journal. The report confirms what many said – that the deployment caused “grave” impact.
But the report goes further. It offers clear advice for Customs that can be applied equally to almost any organisation that is undertaking an ICT enabled change – and in reality that’s most organisations anywhere, at some time. There are lessons to be learned, and improvements that can be made to the way most organisations evaluate, direct and monitor their use of ICT. Booz Allen Hamilton’s report makes it quite clear that Customs’ approach to governance was not up to the needs of the situation.
Customs’ own Michelle Kinnane gave a similar message when she addressed a conference in Sydney recently. Her frank briefing made it clear that the governance of change across the industry – what she calls “seamless governance” – was not happening. In effect, she marked the end of the line for IT Governance approaches that focus only on the delivery of the technology.
The timing of Michelle’s remarks could not have been better – as Gartner’s Mary-Ann Maxwell delivered a salutary message – 75% of organisations need to start over on their IT Governance. The Kinnane and Maxwell comments are summarised in our review of the IQPC IT Governance Summit, held in Sydney in May 2006. The July 2006 IT Governance Letter also concludes our summary of the Company Directors Conference held on the Gold Coast, in May.
Boardroom interest in IT continues to develop strongly. There are stories circulating of a board which, in effect, instructed the CEO to replace the CIO with somebody who could speak the language of the board. As we have already discussed, the Company Directors Conference included a forum specifically focused on the IT Governance topic, and the June 2006 issue of Company Director has an interesting article entitled “Coming to grips with IT”.
Against this backdrop of increasing interest, it’s not surprising that our second IT Governance Round Table for Non-Executive Directors, C-level executives and CIO’s was fully subscribed. Ben Scheltus reports in this edition on the outcome of that breakfast.
Sometimes our work leads to significant change in the way that organisations operate. We are delighted that one of our clients recently advertised for a top level leader who will ensure that the use of ICT is integral to, and absolutely driven by business direction. It’s our pleasure to carry a copy of the advertisement on behalf of Chisholm Institute of TAFE.
We hope that you find this month’s edition interesting, and that you will stay with us as we ride the wave of interest and build Infonomics reputation as the leading independent advisor on corporate governance of ICT.
Mark Toomey
25th July 2006
To read The IT Governance Letter, select the pieces you want to read from the menu at left. Or just click on the "next" button at the bottom of each page to read from start to finish. We don't expect that you will read the entire letter in a single sitting. Each topic is self contained, so you may find it worthwhile to read a bit now, and come back later. Whichever way you choose to use it - we hope you enjoy it.
And if you'd like to tell us what you think, please click on the feedback button, which is in the panel at left.
If you prefer to print and take away, we've also prepared this portable, printer-friendly version. Please be aware that, for the time being, we don't have the means of putting active hyperlinks into the PDF, so if something says "click", we mean in the web-based version.