Revising IT Governance: Towards an Alignment of IT Developments with Security and Digital Transformation Concerns
(2024)
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- Abstract
- In an era marked by rapid technological evolution and Digital Transformation (DT), the imperative for organizations to integrate and leverage on Information Technology (IT) within their operational frameworks has never been more critical. The contemporary digital landscape, characterized by the pervasive adoption of online technologies and the rise of mobile connectivity, demands a reevaluation of traditional IT governance and strategic management practices. As businesses navigate through this complex environment, the role of conceptual modeling in enhancing the alignment between IT capabilities and business objectives emerges as a pivotal area of inquiry. This PhD explores how conceptual modeling can be adequately applied to address the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within IT governance, thereby facilitating a strategic recalibration of organizations in the digital age. At the heart of this exploration lies the recognition of the expanded scope of IT management due to the massive transition from desktop-based to mobile user needs, human-served to online AI customer support, on-premise to cloud-based infrastructures, and the diversification of IT services. This shift not only underscores the need for adaptive business models and regulatory compliance but also accentuates the significance of security, sustainability, and DT as critical components of IT governance. Due to this new environmental setting, the thesis argues that traditional approaches to conceptual modeling, while instrumental in decision-making processes, can reveal to be falling short in capturing the nuanced dynamics of contemporary IT governance. It advocates for the application of conceptual modeling techniques that can report on the complexities of organizational structures and induce a more profound alignment between technological innovations and strategic business objectives of various nature. Employing Design Science Research (DSR) as methodological paradigm, the thesis leads to the development and refinement of conceptual models aimed at addressing emergent domains within IT governance, such as IT security and DT. Through iterative design cycles and empirical studies across diverse industry settings, including healthcare and telecommunications, the research shows the relevancy and validity of newly developed frameworks. The thesis consequently shows the utility of a methodologically rigorous and iterative approach in crafting solutions that are both theoretically robust and pragmatically viable. By reimagining the application of conceptual models in the context of IT governance, the thesis describes paths for organizations to use IT as a strategic enabler of innovation and growth. In doing so, it provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and navigating the complexities of the DT journey, offering valuable insights and methodologies for future research and practice in the field.
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Citations
Aghakhani, G. (2024). Revising IT Governance: Towards an Alignment of IT Developments with Security and Digital Transformation Concerns. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/275221