Board-Level IT Governance

Abstract

This paper suggests that boards’ involvement with information technology (IT) governance is often not at the needed level. It illuminates the differences between board-level and executive-level IT governance, explains why both the board and executives should be motivated to engage in IT governance, and provides board-level IT governance structure, action, and style suggestions. Building on a categorization of different board governance styles, this paper also offers practical recommendations, including IT related areas and questions the board should focus on, as well as a set of tools to choose and switch between governance styles.