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The capability levels are a measure of how well an enterprise performs its information and technology governance and management processes in terms of process attributes such as process performance, process definition, process deployment, process measurement, process control, process optimization etc. The capability levels range from 0 (incomplete) to 5 (optimizing), indicating the degree of maturity and effectiveness of an enterprise’s information and technology governance and management processes. The capability levels are most likely to increase as a result of identifying specific design factors that increase the importance of certain governance and management objectives. The design factors are the characteristics or conditions that influence how an enterprise designs and implements its information and technology governance system using COBIT 2019. The design factors include aspects such as enterprise strategy archetype; enterprise goals; IT-related goals; risk profile; IT deployment; threat landscape; compliance requirement; operating environment; size of enterprise; culture; stakeholders; etc. By identifying specific design factors that increase the importance of certain governance and management objectives, an enterprise can tailor its information and technology governance system to suit its context and needs. This will also help to improve its capability levels for those governance and management objectives that are prioritized by the design factors. For example, if an enterprise identifies that its IT deployment design factor is cloud-based or hybrid-based, it may increase the importance of certain governance and management objectives such as managed availability and capacity (BAI04), managed service agreements (APO09), managed security services (DSS05), etc., which are relevant for managing cloud-based or hybrid-based IT solutions. By tailoring its information and technology governance system to address those governance and management objectives more effectively, the enterprise can also increase its capability levels for those processes.

 The management of the IT function is the function that leads and manages the information and technology function in an enterprise, as well as supports and enables the information and technology governance. The management of the IT function includes roles such as CIO, IT managers, IT process owners, IT service owners, etc. The management of the IT function is responsible for resolving conflicting priorities in order to finalize the governance system design. The governance system design is the process of designing and implementing a governance system for an enterprise using COBIT 2019. The governance system design involves tailoring the COBIT 2019 components such as principles, enablers, goals, processes, practices, roles, structures, metrics etc., according to the enterprise’s context and needs. The governance system design also involves considering various design factors such as enterprise strategy archetype; enterprise goals; IT-related goals; risk profile; IT deployment; threat landscape; compliance requirement; operating environment; size of enterprise; culture; stakeholders; etc., that influence how an enterprise designs and implements its governance system using COBIT 2019.  By resolving conflicting priorities in order to finalize the governance system design, the management of the IT function ensures that the governance system is appropriate for the enterprise’s strategy objectives performance risks issues opportunities etc., that it delivers value and benefits to the enterprise and its stakeholders that it aligns with the relevant standards guidelines regulations best practices etc., that it meets stakeholder requirements and expectations etc 3 4   References:   3 : COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives: page 20-21  4 : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: page 33-48

The primary purpose for aligning role descriptions to the enterprise’s business context, organization and operating environment when tailoring the COBIT organizational structure is to assign levels of accountability and responsibility for governance and management activities. This purpose helps to ensure that roles are clearly defined, communicated, understood, and accepted by all stakeholders, and that there are no gaps or overlaps in roles.  The purpose is based on the COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide 5 , page 45.  References:   5 : COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide | Digital | English

The governance system design workflow is a workflow that describes how an enterprise can design and implement a governance system using COBIT 2019. The governance system design workflow consists of six steps: determine initial scope; identify relevant design factors; prioritize governance and management objectives; define target capability levels; identify gaps; finalize scope. The governance system design workflow allows for consideration of all design factors in order to develop a customized governance system. The design factors are the characteristics or conditions that influence how an enterprise designs and implements its governance system using COBIT 2019. The design factors include aspects such as enterprise strategy archetype; enterprise goals; IT-related goals; risk profile; IT deployment; threat landscape; compliance requirement; operating environment; size of enterprise; culture; stakeholders; etc. By considering all design factors in the governance system design workflow, an enterprise can ensure that its governance system is appropriate for its context and needs, that it delivers value and benefits to the enterprise and its stakeholders, that it aligns with the relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, best practices, etc., that it meets stakeholder requirements and expectations, etc.

The principle that the governance framework should allow for flexibility in addressing new issues is an important principle of a proper governance framework. A governance framework is a conceptual model or structure that defines the key elements, relationships, and principles of a governance system. A proper governance framework should follow certain principles or guidelines that ensure its effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with the enterprise goals and objectives.  The principle that the governance framework should allow for flexibility in addressing new issues is an important principle of a proper governance framework because it helps to ensure that the governance system can adapt to changes in the internal or external environment, stakeholder needs, business objectives, etc. 1 3   References:   COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology ,  COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

 The functional task area that is responsible for assessing the potential return on investment (ROI) during future state planning is program management. According to the COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide, program management is one of the key enablers of IT governance and management, and it includes the processes and practices for planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing IT programs and projects. One of the activities of program management is to conduct a business case analysis for each proposed improvement initiative in the future state plan. This analysis involves estimating the costs, benefits, risks, dependencies, assumptions, constraints, success factors, and ROI of each initiative.  The analysis helps to prioritize and justify the initiatives based on their expected value to the enterprise.  References:  : COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide: Implementing and Optimizing an Information and Technology Governance Solution, page 15  1  : COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide: Implementing and Optimizing an Information and Technology Governance Solution, page 38 

 The design factor associated with a highly regulated enterprise is likely to attribute more importance to documented work products and policies. A design factor is a characteristic or aspect of an enterprise that influences the design and implementation of a governance system. They include factors such as enterprise size, industry sector, risk profile, regulatory environment, sourcing model, etc. A highly regulated enterprise is one that operates in an industry or market that is subject to strict laws, rules, standards, or guidelines that affect its business processes, products, services, etc.  A highly regulated enterprise would need to ensure compliance with these requirements by documenting its work products and policies, as well as by providing evidence of their implementation and effectiveness. 1 2   References:   COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology ,  COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

 The primary reason for management to conduct a process capability assessment is to better understand the current state as compared to the target state. A process capability assessment is a method of measuring and evaluating how well a process or activity is performed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, completeness, reliability, etc. A process capability assessment can be done using different models or frameworks, such as CMMI or ISO/IEC 15504. A process capability assessment helps management to better understand the current state of a process by identifying its strengths, weaknesses, gaps, and improvement opportunities.  A process capability assessment also helps management to compare the current state with the target state, which is the desired level of performance or outcome for a process. 1 3   References:   COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology ,  COBIT Process Assessment Model (PAM): Using COBIT 5

The value that I & T delivers should be aligned directly with the values on which the business is focused. This is based on the principle of alignment, which states that “governance of enterprise I & T should ensure that I & T-enabled investments are aligned with the enterprise strategy and deliver the expected benefits” . Value delivery is not only about maintaining or increasing value from existing I & T investments, but also about ensuring that new investments support the strategic objectives and stakeholder needs of the enterprise.

Providing clear definition of the processes and required activities facilitates the achievement of different capability levels in COBIT core model. Processes are structured sets of activities that produce outputs or outcomes for achieving specific objectives. Activities are specific tasks or actions that contribute to achieving a process outcome or objective. Processes and activities are defined by their inputs, outputs, roles, responsibilities, controls, etc.  Providing clear definition of processes and activities helps to ensure that they are performed consistently, effectively, efficiently, and reliably, which leads to higher capability levels. 1 2   References:   COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology ,  COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives