Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology for Managing Information in Organizations - Case Study Example

Individual Report of Managing Information in Organizations Name Course Instructor Date Individual Report of Managing Information in Organizations Introduction Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT) refers to a structure developed by ISACA for Information technology (IT) management and IT governance (Atangan 2009). It offers managers an opportunity to link control requirements with technical matters and operation threats. The COBIT was first released by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association in the year 1996; ICASA issued the present edition COBIT 5 in the year 2012 (Moeller 2013). COBIT is a compilation of excellent practices and procedures for IT governance. It offers the effectual tactics, pointers and activities for a business. COBIT has been applied in many other aspects such as software progression, safety governance, and IT overhauls management. COBIT requires extensive knowledge for the execution of each application (Betz 2007). This paper will discuss the COBIT requirements of information quality and application to information by different staff at SAIBT in relation to student and staff information. COBIT Requirements of Information Quality The COBIT structure is important in the IT alignment with a business by paying attention on business information needs and organization of IT resources (“COBIT” 2007). COBIT offers the framework and guides on IT Governance implementation. Organizations rely on dependable and opportune data and information. COBIT structure offers a complete framework for value deliverance and management of risk, data, and information. COBIT requirements of information quality are grouped into four framework strategies which include; business strategy, information criteria, IT resources, and IT process (“COBIT 5” 2012). According to (Atangan 2009), business strategy includes satisfaction of business objectives where information ought to align to specific criterion which COBIT names as business requirements for information. In Service Quality and Cost, preference is given to proper risk management. The usability feature of Quality sets down the efficacy of information criteria. The presence of security requirements, Effectiveness, and Efficiency overlaps the delivery aspect of Quality (Betz 2007). The quality of information is the solution to the success of any business management. Nevertheless, management requires to decide the level at which reflection of the quality of information through legal technical system occurs. Though most businesses are conscious of the quality regulatory, they are frequently unaware about the extent at which the policies ought to be followed during main transition processes. Cost is covered under Efficiency. Fiduciary requirements includes excellent performance areas and audit conditions. It also includes information reliability and conformity to regulatory laws. Security requirements include the global accord on confidentiality, accessibility, and truthfulness (COBIT quickstar” 2007). Information Criteria refers to how information is systematized to conform to the previous requirements. It includes Effectiveness which deals with relevance and pertinence of information to the business procedures. Also, it deals with timely and steadiness of information deliverance. Efficiency ensures information is provided in the most industrious and cost effective usage of resources (Betz 2007). Confidentiality deals with protection of responsive information from illegal disclosure. Integrity concerns the accurateness and totality of information as to its dependability with respect to business values and prospect. Availability relates to information being obtainable when needed by the present and future business processes (Tarantino 2006). Also, it safeguards vital sources and relevant capabilities. Compliance concerns the observance of laws and regulatory rules under which the business must operate. Information reliability deals with provision of proper information for effective running of the business processes (Atangan 2009). IT Resources deals with identification of resources required for the execution of processes. It includes; data, application systems, technology, and people. Data may be; internal or external; detailed or sketchy. Application systems refer to a collection of manual and automated procedures. Facilities refer to a collection of resources to abode and sustain information systems. People refer to personnel knowhow, responsiveness, and ability to arrange, systematize, obtain, support, and examine information systems and services (“COBIT 5” 2012). IT process refers to what stakeholders anticipate from Information Technology. It is organized into four domains; planning and organization; acquisition and implementation; support and delivery; and monitoring. Planning and organization deal with tactics, approaches, and considerations that that add to the accomplishment of the business objectives. Moreover the comprehension of the tactical vision requires planning, communication, and management for diverse perspectives (Moisand & Labareyre 2010). Also, there is need for adoption of a proper organizational and technological communication system. Acquisition and implementation involves recognition, attainment, and implementation of the IT resolutions. Support and delivery involves the real deliverance of the goal services. For efficient service delivery, the vital support procedures must be adopted. Monitoring involves the frequent evaluation of procedures for their superiority and conformity with regulatory requirements. Hence, this domain deals majorly with managements misapprehension of the business’ regulatory processes and sovereign assurance offered by the internal and external review or achieved through alternative methods (“COBIT 5” 2012). As business environments undergo swift changes, organizations such as learning institutions have to redefine their business objectives (Brand & Boonen 2007). In most cases, there is need to refurbish their business plans, the organizational framework, and operational structures. There is need for reassessment of the information and infrastructure requirements. Global competitive forces, increased customer expectations, and surfacing of newer technologies. Improved technology has quickened change in management. Technology has enabled organizations to balance their risks and returns and ensure compliance with business goals via implementation of the COBIT framework (Moisand & Labareyre 2010). Application to Information by Different Staff at SAIBT Institutions of higher learning are in search of methods of controlling costs wherever possible. The focus should shift from improvement of internal operations to putting extra efforts on the customers because there is increased demand for more customer attention and immediate services (Lahti & Peterson 2005). Decision makers at SAIBT should look at all expenditures and observe keenly where to cut down costs through installation of greater IT systems. For successful implementation of an IT control system, there is need for understanding management requirements before implementation of IT governance (“COBIT mapping” 2007). IT service management is very vital in higher education sector and university education. In the Higher education centers, it is vital for enhancement of competitiveness and performance of associated stockholders (Moeller 2013). Management of IT infrastructure for institutions has become a vital role and it is directly linked to resource management. Implementers should have the understanding of basic idea of the system and familiarize themselves with it (Brand & Boonen 2007). These systems are very useful in facilitation of efficient collaboration in learning and educational association. COBIT strategic investment will lead to efficiency improvement, cost reduction, and integrates IT into the institution’s procedures and objectives (Moeller 2013). Through automation of major tasks, the institution will experience minimal daily strains though IT service delivery; different systems can be managed efficiently; security improvement of the IT improvement; automation of routine IT tasks and management of deices form various sites. Before implementation of COBIT in SAIBT, there should be a clear analysis of requirements of the users. It should be followed by description of new approaches that would customize in a dissimilar mode so as to maximize user satisfaction of users (Lahti & Peterson 2005). Criteria based timetable management is usually a hard and significant issue both practically and algorithmically (Hove &Thomas 2014). Constructions of the entire timetable, either manually or by use of MS- office application is tiresome or time consuming. Hence, COBIT is vital in the creation of software system that has the ability to model user developed sources and puts into practice the offered criteria with the aim of allowing the user to plan the timetable (Betz 2007). The process of timetable construction is will be guided by instructive cautions and suggestions. In most higher learning institutions, timetable construction is a difficult task to administer (Hove &Thomas 2014). There are a variety of limitations and parameters that ought to be put into consideration. For instance college timetables need a lot of time spent by skilled people so as to develop efficient timetables with maximal restraint satisfaction. In cases where the optimization of constraints is missed out, the entire educational system is faced with serious chaos threats (Brand & Boonen 2007). Hence, a timetable developed manually of by MS Office is not efficiently reliable. Systems ought to be easy to use with optimal adaptability of extra user-defined limitations. The system ought to adhere to environment policies and should alert the user concerning events; COBIT framework is the best for the definition of possible solutions for maximal user satisfaction (Betz 2007). Conclusion The paper briefly summarized the COBIT requirements for information quality and how it can be applied in SAIBT in relation to staff and student information. COBIT requirements of information quality are grouped into four framework strategies which include; business strategy, information criteria, IT resources, and IT processes. Management of IT infrastructure in institutions has become a vital role and it is directly linked to resource management. COBIT strategic investment will lead to efficiency improvement, cost reduction, and integrates IT into the institution’s procedures and objectives. Bibliography Atangan, E, 2009, COBIT and application controls a management guide, Rolling Meadows, IL, ISACA. Betz, C, T, 2007, Architecture and patterns for IT service management, resource planning, and governance making shoes for the cobbler's children, Amsterdam, Elsevier/Morgan Kaufmann. Brand, K, Boonen, H, 2007, IT governance based on COBIT 4.1: a management guide. (3. ed.), Zaltbommel, Van Haren Pub. COBIT 4.1, 2007, Rolling Meadows, Ill, IT Governance Institute. COBIT 5 implementation, 2012, Rolling Meadows, Ill, ISACA. COBIT mapping of TOGAF 8.1 with COBIT 4.0, 2007, Rolling Meadows, Ill, IT Governance Institute. COBIT quickstart (2nd ed.), 2007, Rolling Meadows, Ill, IT Governance Institute. Hove, S, Thomas, M, 2014, Pragmatic application of service management the five anchor approach, Ely, Cambridgeshire, U.K, IT Governance Pub.. Lahti, C, Peterson, R, 2005, Sarbanes-Oxley IT compliance using COBIT and open source tools. Rockland, MA, Syngress Pub.. Moeller, R, 2013, Executive's guide to IT governance: improving systems processes with service managment, Cobit and ITIL, Hoboken (N.J.), John Wiley. Moisand, D, Labareyre, F, 2010, CobiT (2e édition. ed.), Paris, Eyrolles. Tarantino, A, 2006, Manager's guide to compliance Sarbanes-Oxley, COSO, ERM, COBIT, IFRS, BASEL II, OMB A-123, ASX 10, OECD principles, Turnbull guidance, best practices, and case studies, Hoboken, N.J, John Wiley & Sons. Read More