An Exploratory Study on the Development and Application of Integrated Information Technology Management Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore how Turkish companies are implementing information technology (IT) governance to achieve desirable behavior in the use of IT. A literature-based integrated IT management model (IITMM) is developed. Research objectives further include a high-level assessment of organizations' perceived level of IT governance capabilities by applying the proposed IITMM. The IITMM discusses the IT governance literature in three management levels (i.e. normative, strategic and operational) and in three management dimensions (i.e. goals, structures and behaviors). The model was applied to five companies from Turkish automotive supply industry. Based on the IITMM, a questionnaire was developed to provide a structured interview pattern for face-to-face interviews. An interview with a business or IT executive was conducted in each company. Results of the study revealed that except strategic goals and operational goals, different IT governance capability patterns exist for each company. Although the strategic goals and operational goals of IT governance are well understood by all participating companies, there is a room for improvement in structures and behaviors dimensions, especially in normative behaviors and strategic behaviors, as well as in strategic structures and operational structures. In addition, specific IT governance constructs are identified as drivers or inhibitors of effective IT governance implementation. Finally, some IT governance mechanisms, such as IT control framework, independent assurance, IT project management, committees and councils, IT principles and end-user involvement in determining IT strategies, were perceived as not effectively implemented. In summary, the results indicate that the IITMM provides a useful framework for determining the current IT governance capabilities of companies considering model's ability to recognize different levels of capabilities and to identify general and specific improvement opportunities.