Sustainable IT Governance (SITG): Is COBIT 5 An Adequate Model?

Arguably, IT Governance should address sustainability. This study reviews a prominent IT governance framework, COBIT 5, to determine the extent to which it supports sustainability dimensions, especially as related to the acquisition, use and disposal of IT assets. Based on our analyses, we conclude that COBIT 5 does not adequately address sustainability concerns facing organizations today. The drivers, benefits, risks, and security considerations associated with sustainability in IT governance are explored in this discussion. We conclude our review with suggestions on how COBIT could be possibly be enhanced to remedy its present sustainability deficiencies

Information Technology Auditing: A Value-Added IT Governance Partnership between IT Management and Audit

Information systems provide both the means for organizations to transact business and the ability to report the financial results of their operations. Information technology auditing is an integral part of corporate governance. However, information technology auditing is often looked upon as a “necessary evil” or is overlooked entirely by IT management We argue that IT audit activities can provide additional value beyond the primary objective of assurance, assuming the organization embraces IT governance partnerships between IT management and the audit function. We also analyze factors developed from field study research that suggest IT audits are special projects requiring a quality audit process and sound project management principles. These success factors, if managed properly, can lead to high-quality IT audit products (i.e., engagements) that could conceivably free audit resources for more value-added projects and enterprise oversight. We close with a discussion of future research directions

IT Asset Disposition Services: A Green Solution for the Enterprise

Enterprise IT asset disposition is one important contributing dimension to green IT initiatives adopted by organizations. ITasset disposition services aim to maximize the value of the IT asset investment of enterprises over its entire lifecycle whileguaranteeing data security and protecting against environmental liability. The purpose of this paper is to introduce thepractice of IT asset disposition services in the United States, and more specifically, the processes used to accomplish thethree key objectives in IT asset disposition: 1) data security and protection, 2) environmental responsibility and compliance,and 3) asset value recovery. Regulatory compliance of companies and the role of information systems in IT asset dispositionare discussed and a few future directions of research are proposed

Online Social Networks: An Online Brand Community Framework

This article explores the various stances and ideas that firms must both heed and consistently adapt to in the perpetuation ofthe Web 2.0 phenomenon of online social networks (OSNs). Within the article, the sociological implications of OSNs areexplored before discussing various strategies, opportunities, and problems that are associated with the continued growth ofOSNs within and outside of the firm, ending with the creation of a theoretical framework for value co-creation using OSNsand brand communities, and critical success factors in utilizing said framework

Increasing Demand For IT Auditing Creates New Career Options For AIS/MIS/IT Students

The demand to hire entry-level IT auditors is rising around the globe, mostly due to dramatic changes in laws and regulations.  Employers in the United States are increasingly hiring MIS majors to fill IT audit positions, even graduates who have little or no formal education in auditing.  MIS students and educators should have an awareness of the impact these new governance laws and regulations are having on IT operations.  For students interested in IT audit careers, we describe the emerging field of IT auditing and discuss skills necessary for success in this profession.  AIS/IT/MIS educators can help develop these skills, and can learn about some suggestions for doing so.  IT executives and managers should also be aware of these shifting trends because they will affect their supply of qualified personnel and because many of the changes in laws and regulations will likely have an impact beyond their normal national scope

Requisite Skills and Knowledge for Entry-level IT Auditors

Information technology auditing has become a career in high demand in recent years due to factors such as increasing compliance requirements with regards to information technology governance. Nonetheless, many information technology, management information systems, and accounting information systems educators may not have paid significant attention to this phenomenon and can benefit from an overview of the skills and knowledge requirements for a successful career in this lucrative field. Students seeking a career in information systems auditing also need to know more about the skills required for success, and the highest ranked categories may surprise management information systems students who tend to focus on technology skills (and often at the expense of other, softer skills). In this research, we analyze online advertisements for information technology audit jobs to compile a list of key career skills and knowledge for which educators, students and currently practicing audit professionals can focus attention to ensure success in this particularly strong employment market. This paper will also discuss specific ways that information systems educators can facilitate their students\u27 development of these key skills

Project Management Assurance in Agile Projects: Research in Progress

It is well known that many information technology (IT) systems development projects fail on one or more of the key criteria of cost, time and functionality. To manage the inherent complexity in IT projects and to provide methods for assessing project performance, we propose implementing an assurance process for IT projects - projects specifically using Agile/Scrum principles and practices. Building on prior work by Khazanchi and Owens (2010), the assurance process accounts for the uniqueness of the project while assessing potential risk factors at each stage of the project life cycle. We use the case of a midsized Midwestern U.S. university to gather feedback about how the project management assurance framework might work in the Agile project management environment

Environmental Management Information Systems: A Conceptual Overview and Review of Vendors

Organizations need relevant and specific information systems to operate their carbon emissions, energy use, and other green activities to support its management of sustainability initiatives and related accounting and other reporting requirements. Green information systems (IS) and environmental management information systems (EMIS) thus become necessary for monitoring and controlling activities and procedures regarding environmental concerns. In the IS scholarly community, we have not yet given full attention to carbon management and environmental management IS, despite our increasing efforts in research around green information systems. In this paper, we aim to introduce the concepts of environmental management information systems by discussing some of their common software characteristics, such as whether support for ISO 14001 is provided. We provide an overview of a collection of such green and sustainable information systems and will discuss thoughts on directions for conducting IS research on these topics at the conference

Soft Skills versus Technical Skills: Finding the Right Balance for an IS Curriculum

Continuous improvement and development of a curriculum is an essential part of the success of information systems academic departments. In the current study, we facilitated focus group sessions with information technology executives to identify the critical skills they seek when hiring entry-level MIS graduates. The results follows the general trend that has recently been seen throughout the IT industry, as seven of the top ten skills were soft in nature, two were system skills, and only one could be accurately categorized as highly technical in nature

Misalignment of Expectations for Entry-Level IT Auditors

Information systems auditing is a growing profession. In order for information technology educators to help keep up with the demand for information systems audit professionals, more understanding is needed about the knowledge, skills and abilities required for entry-level IT auditors. In our ongoing research, we have analyzed several sources to identify such skills. In the process we noted that there are gaps between what academics, practitioners, and professional associations see as the key skills required for success in this lucrative profession. We suggest reasons for such gaps and discuss potential future research opportunities