Establishing IT Governance and IT Portfolio Management for Business Adaptability

This IDC Insight sets a framework for the process, organizational, and functional definitions for IT governance and the enabling IT portfolio management technologies that drive this competitive market to enable successful IT life-cycle management across IT projects, programs, and operational assets. The concepts of IT governance and IT portfolio management demand clear definition and focused discussion. ITG and ITPM are frequently bandied about as unfocused phrases that are loosely defined (and then redefined) by whomever happens to be using the terms within varying contexts. However, Global 2000 organizations urgently seek coordination and governance across key corporate projects and programs as well as across IT operational assets and infrastructure. They deserve and require process, organizational, and functional capabilities to help unite prioritization and planning for IT projects and programs along with IT asset portfolios (including the application portfolio). The goal of this Insight is to lay out a foundation for understanding the concepts of ITG and ITPM to enable a common basis for understanding and for effective, comprehensive end-to-end IT life-cycle management.