‘IT Governance in Extended Enterprise’

BANGALORE: With growing automation, organizations are increasingly depending on IT. No more is IT just a tool, but has become integral part of the entire system. Due to ever related technologies, IT Governance has become primary to the survival of the business.

An extended enterprise is the phenomenon of extending an organization beyond its traditional boundaries by virtual integration with other entities or organizations. What are the drivers for operating such an enterprise? How should it be controlled, directed and managed? These were some of the important issues discussed in a day-long seminar conducted jointly by Information Systems Audit and Control Association, Bangalore Chapter (ISACA) and Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India, Bangalore Chapter on 9th April, 2004.

Commenting on the essence of IT in today’s business, Abdul Hamid Bin Abdullah, VP ISACA said, “IT no longer merely supports our work strategies; it is an integral part of them. In the public as well as the private sectors, It has led to the restructuring of organizations and the labour force with the virtualization of organizations and the rise of the knowledge-worker. These two developments in the post industrial era have brought about a paradigm shift in the organization of economic activity.”

The seminar also discussed the role of governance which is the interplay of leadership, structure and processes with the goal of providing strategic direction for the enterprise, ensuring that objectives are achieved, ascertaining that risks are managed appropriately and verifying that resources are used responsibly.

With the attendance of more than 50 professionals from various IT companies, banks and financial institutions, the seminar focused on the importance of a clearly defined IT plan for an organization and the need to properly utilize the available information resting with the organizations. Other areas of governance such as Enterprise Governance and Corporate Governance were also discussed.