Val IT is a governance :wikt:framework|framework that can be used to create business value from IT investments. It consists of a set of guiding principles and a number of processes and best practices that are further defined as a set of key management practices to support and help executive management and boards at an enterprise level. The latest release of the framework, published by IT Governance Institute, based on the experience of global practitioners and academics, practices and methodologies was named Enterprise Value: Governance of IT Investments, The Val IT Framework 2.0. It covers processes and key management practices for three specific domains and goes beyond new investments to include IT services, assets, other resources and principles and processes for IT portfolio management.
Overview
Val IT allows business managers to get business value from IT investments, by providing a governance framework that consists of
a set of guiding principles, and
a number of processes conforming to those principles that are further defined as a set of key management practices.
Val IT extends and complements COBIT, which provides a comprehensive control framework for IT governance. Specifically, Val IT focuses on the investment decision and the realisation of benefits, while COBIT focuses on the execution
COBIT Version 5 incorporates Val IT to its framework:
The COBIT 5 process reference model is the successor of the COBIT 4.1 process model, with the Risk IT and Val IT process models integrated as well.
Relationship to VMM
, which has the motto "it's not just about ROI any more", provides more specific guidance than Val IT about:
the different types of value that can be considered; and
how to compare the "apples" with "oranges" from individual projects to help maintain balance.
Principles
IT-enabled investments will be managed as a portfolio of investments.
IT-enabled investments will include the full scope of activities that are required to achieve business value.
IT-enabled investments will be managed through their full economic life cycle.
Value delivery practices will recognize that there are different categories of investments that will be evaluated and managed differently.
Value delivery practices will define and monitor key metrics and will respond quickly to any changes or deviations.
Value delivery practices will engage all stakeholders and assign appropriate accountability for the delivery of capabilities and the realization of business benefits.
Value delivery practices will be continually monitored, evaluated and improved.
Major Processes
Each of the following major processes/activities have a responsibility assignment matrix, indicating the responsibilities of the senior executives, business managers, and information managers, along with the major and minor COBIT control objectives associated with the activity.
Value Governance
VG1: Establish informed and committed leadership.
VG2: Define and implement processes.
VG3: Define portfolio characteristics.
VG4: Align and integrate value management with enterprise financial planning.
VG5: Establish effective governance monitoring.
VG6: Continuously improve value management practices.
As with COBIT, Val IT can be adapted for use with many other domains that are yet to develop an engineering perspective, by either removing the phrases "Information Technology" and "IT-enabled", or replacing them with the name of your domain of interest, and then "season to taste".
