ISO/IEC 38503:2022 is like a detailed blueprint for constructing a reliable bridge between your business strategy and IT operations—a pathway that ensures technology doesn’t operate in isolation but functions as an integral support system for your organisation’s goals.
IT governance: designing the pathway
Think of this standard as a guide to laying the foundation and building the structure that strategically aligns your IT efforts.
Too often, organisations have IT initiatives that drift away from business objectives, like a bridge under construction with no clear destination. ISO/IEC 38503:2022 provides a structured method for evaluating IT governance to make sure every piece is properly aligned, ultimately leading you where you need to go.
The power of assessments
Assessing your IT governance is like a structural integrity test for your bridge.
It’s not about catching small mistakes or merely checking off boxes; it’s about ensuring your IT framework can carry the weight of your business needs effectively and efficiently. A good assessment reveals strengths, highlights weaknesses, and offers a blueprint for reinforcing and optimising the structure. It also engages all relevant stakeholders—board members, IT teams, and management—aligning their efforts so that IT becomes a trusted and strategic partner in achieving business objectives.
The different approaches: internal, external, and hybrid
ISO/IEC 38503:2022 lays out multiple pathways for conducting these assessments:
- Self-assessment: this is like the builder inspecting their own work. It’s fast, straightforward, and gives the governing body a chance to reflect on its performance.
- Internal assessment: here, you bring in someone from within the organisation—someone familiar with the bridge’s construction. This option allows for deeper engagement, leveraging internal knowledge to assess the governance framework while ensuring that the organisation’s unique context is considered.
- External assessment: this involves engaging an independent expert—like a seasoned engineer who can objectively evaluate the structure without being influenced by internal biases. It provides an external perspective, ensuring that the bridge can withstand both internal and external forces, including regulatory compliance.
Governance of IT maturity model: mapping your progress
The maturity model in ISO/IEC 38503:2022 is the roadmap that tells you how far along you are in building and maintaining a robust IT governance framework. It evaluates how well policies are formalised, how effectively decisions are made, and how aligned your IT strategies are with business objectives. The goal is to progress through the maturity stages, refining processes until they are optimised—functioning as a seamless, well-maintained structure that supports the organisation’s business strategy.
Assessment activities: from planning to reporting
ISO/IEC 38503:2022 breaks down assessment activities into a detailed sequence:
- Planning the assessment: this is like drafting the blueprint, establishing objectives, identifying stakeholders, and outlining the assessment scope. It ensures that the assessment focuses on critical areas that maximise benefits.
- Data collection and assessment: this step involves gathering evidence on IT governance practices, similar to inspecting every support beam and connection in your bridge. The assessment expert uses this data to determine the effectiveness and maturity of the governance framework.
- Reporting: the findings are then communicated to relevant stakeholders, including strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. It’s the comprehensive report that provides insights for reinforcing the governance framework and ensures that the organisation is building a solid foundation.
How ITLawCo can help
At ITLawCo, we are the engineers that guide you through this intricate construction process. Whether you’re conducting a self-assessment or need an external perspective, we bring the expertise to ensure your IT governance is structurally sound, strategically aligned, and future-proof. We help build, test, and reinforce your IT governance bridge, making sure it supports your organisation’s journey to success. Let us help you design and maintain a governance structure that’s built to last, delivering real value every step of the way. Contact us today.