IT Enabled Engineering Asset Management: A Governance Perspective

Abstract

Engineering asset lifecycle management requires a variety of information as well as operational technologies to keep their asset base in running condition In theory these technologies are used in collection, storage, and analysis of information spanning asset lifecycle processes; providing decision support capabilities through analytic conclusions arrived at from analysis of data; and in providing an integrated view of asset management through processing and communication of information that also allows for the basis of asset management functional integration. In doing so, these technologies not only provide for the control of asset lifecycle tasks, but also contribute to the overall advise on effective asset management though the critical role that they have in decision making. However, even though operational technologies depend a lot on information technologies for their smooth functioning, yet due to their specialized nature these operational technologies are not considered as part of the overall organizational information technology infrastructure. Consequently, when it comes to governance of information technologies, operational technologies are not accounted for. This paper provides a framework for governance of information technologies utilized for asset lifecycle management. It concludes that information technologies should not be taken as technical constructs, these are at the core of strategic alignment, value delivery, resource management, and risk management. Governance of information technology, therefore, calls for understanding and accounting for the whole information technology base and enabling infrastructure of the organization.