IT Governance Planning at Western Illinois University

The assignment discusses IT Governance Planning with a focus on the framework implemented by Western Illinois University from 2013 to 2018. It emphasizes the importance of aligning IT processes with organizational goals through policies that ensure both demand governance (doing the right things) and supply-side governance (doing things right). The strategic plan recommends improvements in governance structure, third-party system evaluations, technological applications for scholarly work, and enhancing IT infrastructure. These suggestions aim to foster better decision-making, efficiency, cost reduction, and improved educational outcomes by utilizing technologies like Desktop Virtualization and electronic classrooms.

Running head: IT GOVERNANCE PLANNING
IT Governance Planning
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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IT GOVERNANCE PLANNING
IT Governance Policies
IT governance is referred to as a set of policies or processes that must be adapted in order
to achieve organizational goals through the proper use of IT. This plan ensures that the IT
modules within an organization is efficiently and effectively used (Ali & Green, 2012). IT
governance plans are set to addresses two crucial aspects of IT work culture of an organization
namely, Demand Governance or “to do the right things” and Supply-side Governance or “To do
the things right”.
IT Governance Framework 2013-2018 of the Western Illinois University
According to the "IT Strategic Plan and IT Governance Framework - University
Technology - Western Illinois University" (2018), the Western University of Illinois
implemented their new IT strategic planning for a 5-year period, that is from 2013 to 2018. The
strategic plan recognizes and highlights the strategic plans and goals that assists the adoption of
the proper use of technologies that would boost the aspects pertaining to learning, teaching,
research and the business process of the university. They have made certain major changes to
their existing plan and have provided valuable insights and suggestions for every organization to
follow. Few of the suggestive recommendations made by this plan are as follows:
1. Improve the IT Governance Structure and Communication
It is necessary to lay out a full-fledged framework for IT governance. The framework
encourages all the campuses of the university to work cohesively following a common set of
guidelines to enhance IT decision making. The plan also instils the need to appoint respective
members from staffs and students who would help in the communication process of the IT
policies and requirements. This enhances the efficiency of the IT modules within the University.

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A proper communication would not only enhance cost efficiency but would also help to
eliminate confusions, thus reducing effort duplication between units.
2. Invite Third-party Enterprise IT System Evaluators
The University recommended the engagement of the services of an unbiased, independent
third party consulting organization to analyze and make recommendations regarding the
university’s information system.
3. Technological applications to enhance scholarly aspects
This is one of the most important factors of the University’s IT planning. Through this,
the university wishes to enable the staffs and students to remote access their scholarly materials
and requirements using the means of technology. Desktop Virtualization (VDI) is the mode
through which they wish achieve this feat. VDI would allow staffs and or students to access lab
applications through their personal mobile or other computing devices. The plan also highlights
the need for more electronic classroom implementations with in the campus and train faculties to
teach via these e-mediums efficiently.
4. Improve IT infrastructure
As the quality of IT services determines the outcome of it, the University planning
pressurized on the aspect of providing the best of technical guidance. From the installation of
professionally planned networks to using secured, robust and efficient software and web portals,
the University planned all such necessities down in their framework.
The above-described IT governance plan throws quality light on the urgent necessities of
a well-planned IT module for any organization. The recommendations made by the University

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plan are efficient enough to help enrich the working culture and business aspects of any institute
or organization.

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IT GOVERNANCE PLANNING
References
Ali, S., & Green, P. (2012). Effective information technology (IT) governance mechanisms: An
IT outsourcing perspective. Information Systems Frontiers, 14(2), 179-193.
IT Strategic Plan and IT Governance Framework - University Technology - Western Illinois
University. (2018). Wiu.edu. Retrieved 23 January 2018, from
http://www.wiu.edu/university_technology/other_info/it_strategic_plan_and_governance/