COBIT 2019 - Domain 2 | Align, Plan, and Organize (APO)

Summary

The discussion focuses on the second domain of IT management, known as APO or Line Plan and Organize. It covers long-term IT planning aligned with business strategy, including 3 to 5-year initiatives like IT strategic plans, master plans, roadmaps, or blueprints. Innovation management is also discussed, involving the identification and implementation of technological ideas. The script further delves into portfolio management, project management, budgeting, and resource planning, including training needs. Relationship management with customers and end-users is emphasized, including regular satisfaction surveys to improve IT solutions. The script also highlights the importance of service catalogs, service level agreements (SLAs), and managing IT security and data management, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Takeaways

• 📈 The discussion revolves around the second domain of KOBIT, focusing on the long-term IT planning and organization aspects that align with business strategy.
• 🛠️ The IT strategic plan, master plan, roadmap, or blueprint typically includes 3 to 5 years of long-term initiatives and architectural considerations.
• 💡 Innovation management is a key aspect, involving the identification, analysis, and implementation of IT-related technological innovations.
• 📚 The strategic plan must be managed effectively, with initiatives broken down into a portfolio that outlines the initiatives to be executed in the coming years.
• 👨‍💼 Each initiative in the portfolio is managed as a project, overseen by individual Project Managers.
• 💰 The strategic plan requires budget estimation for each initiative's implementation, ensuring financial planning is integral to the process.
• 👥 Human resource planning is essential, including headcount, competencies, and training needs to meet organizational requirements.
• 🔗 Relationship management with customers and end-users is vital, ensuring that IT solutions meet business and organizational expectations.
• 📊 Regular satisfaction surveys are conducted to assess whether IT solutions meet the expectations of internal and external customers and to identify areas for improvement.
• 🗂️ The IT service catalog is a repository of IT services available to users, complemented by Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that guarantee service quality.
• 🔒 Information security management is crucial, with the organization needing to control and apply security measures within the IT environment.
• 🗃️ Data management, a process that has gained importance in recent times, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now part of the IT management domain.

Q & A

What does 'APO' stand for in the context of IT planning?

In the context of IT planning, 'APO' stands for 'Apo' or 'Line Plan and Organize', which is the second domain of the IT Balanced Scorecard and relates to various aspects of IT planning aligned with business strategy.

What is the significance of the IT strategic plan in long-term IT planning?

The IT strategic plan is significant as it outlines initiatives that will be carried out 3 to 5 years in advance, typically including the architecture within it. It can be referred to as an IT master plan, roadmap, or blueprint.

How does innovation management fit into the APO domain of IT planning?

Innovation management in the APO domain involves managing ideas related to IT and technology, identifying their origin, analyzing their feasibility, and implementing them as part of the IT planning process.

What is a 'portfolio' in the context of IT strategic planning?

A 'portfolio' in IT strategic planning refers to a collection of initiatives that will be executed 3 to 5 years in the future. These initiatives are managed as projects overseen by individual Project Managers.

Why is it important to manage the investment in IT long-term planning?

Managing the investment in IT long-term planning is crucial to identify the budget estimates required for each initiative's implementation and to ensure the allocation of resources and funding aligns with organizational goals.

How does the management of human resources (HR) factor into IT planning?

HR management in IT planning involves planning for the number of personnel (headcount), their competencies, and the training needs to ensure their skills meet the organization's requirements, all of which should be detailed in the strategic IT planning document.

What is the purpose of relationship management in IT?

The purpose of relationship management in IT is to ensure that stakeholder demands are managed and that IT solutions proposed meet the business and organizational expectations as a whole.

Why are regular satisfaction surveys important in IT?

Regular satisfaction surveys are important to ensure that the IT solutions provided to end-users or customers, both internal and external, meet their expectations and quality standards, allowing for improvements based on feedback.

What is a 'service catalog' in IT management?

A 'service catalog' is a repository of IT services available for users to request or utilize. It should be accompanied by a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that guarantees the quality and standards of the services provided.

What does a Service Level Agreement (SLA) typically include in IT?

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) typically includes guarantees on service availability, capacity, continuity, and security. For example, it might ensure a service's uptime is 99%, outline the capacity of an email mailbox, detail backup mechanisms for continuity, and specify security measures like spam filters.

How has the management of data evolved in the APO domain, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The management of data in the APO domain has become increasingly important, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it involves new processes to control and apply data management within the organizational environment.