IT Management Framework

IT Management Frameworks

By Georges Cascales, Senior Consultant, Information Professionals

In continuing my series of blogs on Project Assurance I was in the process of writing one on Project Assurance Framework when I was asked by one of my colleague what did I mean by Framework.

I was taken by surprise by the question given the industry we are in, however it prompted me to think that there was something in the question.  I was actually able to provide clear and definitive statement at the time.  Before jumping too much into my next blog on Project Assurance Framework, I thought I would consider this question and try to provide a definitive answer.

The best reference I could find is that of Calder-Moir IT Governance Framework.  The Calder-Moir IT Governance Framework evolved as a conceptual approach to help organisations visualise effective IT governance, drawing on and integrating the wide range of IT management tools and systems that exist in the world today.  The good about the Framework is that is also aligns with all international standards and can provide a unifying approach to IT management.

So when we talk about a Framework, what do we mean and if we were developing a framework what would be the key components that should be included.

In general, a framework is a structure intended to guide the building of something. It would define a set of functions or processes, the rules applying to these and their inter-relationship or interfaces.  The focus of a Framework is in clearly defining a set of steps that can be re-used and or improved, clearly describe the relationships and associations between things (processes, people, programs, assets etc.) and described the interactions between these things.

A good example of a framework is one we are all familiar with is the Zachman Framework for Enterprise Architecture where the fundamentals of communication of the Framework is found in the interrogatives: What, How, When, Who, Where, and Why.

Elements that all Frameworks should address.

 

Georges
Georges Cascales is a highly credentialed Manager and Executive, with significant experience in leading IT based change initiatives, including at CIO level. This includes CIO roles with Queensland Urban Utilities, Endeavour Energy (prev. Integral Energy) and NSW Health.  Georges is very familiar with government and corporate change agendas and has been responsible for the management of business units, the provision of software and technical services, direct management of multiple and large projects, systems implementation, change management, the development of IT strategies, and the development of methodologies and quality processes.