An information technology governance framework for the public sector

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Information technology (IT) has an impact on the accomplishments of the entity(Kaselowski, 2008:83). Traditionally, public sector entities struggle to gain any valuefrom the IT environment and regularly overspend on IT projects.In South Africa the Third King Report on Corporate Governance (King III) introduced'The governance of IT' (IODSA, 2009) applicable to both private and public sectorentities.Although generic IT frameworks such as ITIL and COBIT exist and are used byprivate and public entities to govern the IT environment, public sector entities requirea specific IT governance framework suited to the unique characteristics andbusiness processes of the public sector entity. Taking into account the unique natureof the public sector entity, the purpose of this study was to assist public sectorentities in their IT governance efforts through the development of a framework to beused to govern IT effectively, since sufficient guidance for the public sector does notexist.Leopoldi (2005) specifically pointed out that a top-bottom framework could be limitingfor entities operating in a diverse field and having complicated organisationalstructures, both characteristics integral to the public sector environment. Since a topbottomand a bottom-top approach fulfil different purposes, both are needed for ITgovernance in the public sector entity.By combining the two approaches and focusing on the unique environment of thepublic sector entity, a governance framework can be established. This will ensurethat insight has been gained into the IT environment and the business processesand that true alignment between the business and the IT environment for the publicsector entity has been achieved. This framework developed will assist the public sector entity in governing the ITenvironment unique to this industry and will equip public sector management with aframework to govern IT more effectively, while under pressure of public scrutiny.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University