Archive of News
IT's business value
- Published on 16 Oct 2012
- Frew Murdoch
“The value of IT and how to maximise it is a leading question that very few people adequately address,” says Jarvis.
A large number of CIOs and IT managers confess that they do not place enough emphasis on the business value created from IT.
Jarvis says:
“Almost all have difficulty reporting value comprehensively and in a way that directors understand, especially when it comes to what services produce value, what drives consumption and what the trade-off is between service, quality and cost.”
Jarvis maintains that IT should be governed like any other corporate discipline.
Skillsportal reports:
‘In South Africa, King III is substantially different. The apply or explain approach was, and is, intended to challenge directors to govern in the true sense of governance by reading the guiding principles and practices and then applying them according to individual circumstances.
Intrinsically, this is a far better approach, but it relies on directors dutifully representing all stakeholders, understanding how to interpret the guidelines, and initiating effective self-regulation. In some cases, this is not as good as it should be and, often, has resulted in businesses merely trying to comply with principles rather than with best practices and sensible processes.’
Jarvis realises that directors and executive management cannot suddenly become ‘IT experts’; however, assistance should be given to make top-level managers comfortable with their responsibilities of governing IT.
Author: Frew Murdoch is the assistant editor of HR Pulse. She is currently studying towards her BA degree in Communications and English. "I stumbled across your review of our Ethics Guide published 28 June 2012 and wish to thank you for the positive and complimentary comments made – this was a lovely surprise and most rewarding. I will certainly pass this on to all co-authors of the Guide."
Christine Botha, co-author of 'Ethics in HR Management: A guide for HR professionals and line managers', had this to say:
