| Ensuring
that value is obtained from investment in information technology is an
essential component of IT governance. No investment, whether IT-related
or not, should be undertaken without full knowledge of the expected cost
and the anticipated return. Expected return should always be related to risk as, given the higher likelihood of failure, high-risk projects should always have an anticipation of a higher return. Ensuring that the right projects are approved in the first place implies a need for accurate predictive costing of the total project across its lifetime and robust predictions of the potential return, including quantification of the direct and indirect benefits. To ensure that the total process works and becomes part of the culture of the organisation, it is essential to establish proper tracking mechanisms to determine the actual value delivered and enable accountability. Given the volatility of a portfolio of IT-related business projects, it is essential to embed active portfolio management into the organisation to maximise value creation and minimise the risk of value destruction. As with any aspect of IT governance, the process needs visibility, leadership and commitment from the top. SeaQuation has developed tools and techniques that have been fully proven within a global business environment to assist companies with the active management of their IT investment portfolios. These techniques are now available to other clients to help ensure the preservation and creation of value whilst avoiding the risk of value destruction. |
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