Guidelines for Governance Applicability
The role of IT Governance (ITG) is to align the IT initiatives with the business strategies and goals. The IT Governance ecosystem operates on three levels: strategic, oversight and operational.
Guidelines for Governance Applicability
IT Project Governance refers to the process of moving projects with a technology component (also referred to as IT projects) from concept to development using a gated approach. The project governance process was designed to provide oversight and direction on each project's technology.
The goal of this oversight and direction is to foster standardization and reuse of existing assets. Operating much like a review board, Solution Architects representing our core functions (applications, data, infrastructure, networking and security) meet as a committee and each member has individual responsibilities and approve/deny rights. The meetings are held weekly.
Project Gate Process
The project governance process comprises five gates. Each gate builds upon the previous gate to ensure that all aspects of the decision-making process are completed. This approach is used to ensure that every aspect of the project is examined and appropriate entities are made aware of the upcoming needs.
ITG Gate 1 Process
Entrance Criteria: Project added to the Enterprise Portfolio Management (EPM) Portal
- Agency completes the project in-take form, which includes the following:
- Project Overview, Description & Objectives
- Benefits
- Fiscal Information & Procurement Approach
- Technology assessment questionnaire
- Project reviewed for IT implications
Exit Criteria: If it is determined that the project involves a technology component, then Governance is initiated.
ITG Gate 2 Process
Entrance Criteria: High level Business and Technical Requirements submitted
- Agency submits high level Business Requirements and Technical Requirements.
- Governance staff reviews documents for relative alignment
- Agency updates and resubmits the documents as necessary
- Governance staff approves Gate 2 for aligned documents, determines Governance is no longer required, or provides the submitting agency with an explanation for denial
Exit Criteria: Approved Business Requirements and Technical Requirements. Upon Gate 2 approval, the agency may begin detailed requirements gathering, including procurement of resources to help with requirements, or submit a PBC.
ITG Gate 3 Process
Entrance Criteria: Detailed Requirements, or Statement of Work (SOW) submitted.
- Agency submits detailed Requirements, or Statement of Work (SOW).
- Governance staff reviews documents for relative alignment
- Agency updates and resubmits the documents as necessary
- Governance staff approves Gate 3 for aligned documents or provides the submitting agency with an explanation for denial
Exit Criteria: Approved detailed Requirements, or Statement of Work (SOW). Upon Gate 3 approval, the agency may begin the technical design and solicit vendor proposals, or submit an ESR to engage Enterprise Infrastructure team.
ITG Gate 4 Process
Entrance Criteria: Design Blueprint and Technical Architecture documents submitted.
- Agency submits a Design Blueprint and Technical Architecture that expresses the services and products supplied to the business organization that will meet the business needs with relative alignment with the State of Illinois' architecture, strategy, and shared service objectives
- Governance staff reviews documents for relative alignment
- Agency updates and resubmits the documents as necessary
- Governance staff approves Gate 4 for aligned documents or provides the submitting agency with an explanation for denial
Exit Criteria: Approved Design Blueprint and Technical Architecture. Upon Gate 4 approval, the agency may acquire the solution and begin related development and testing
ITG Gate 5 Process
Entrance Criteria: Pre-Implementation Technical Checklist submitted.
- Agency submits a Pre-Implementation Technical Checklist
- Governance staff reviews Checklist for relative alignment
- Agency updates and resubmits the Checklist as necessary
- Governance staff approves Gate 5 for aligned Pre-Implementation Technical checklist or else provide the submitting agency with an explanation for denial
Exit Criteria: Approved Pre-Implementation Technical Checklist. Upon Gate 5 approval, the agency may proceed with steps necessary to deploy the solution into production.
