COBIT-2019 Exam Dumps - COBIT 2019 Foundation

 As explained in the previous question, the success metrics for the EGIT continual improvement program are identified and defined in the third stage of the EGIT implementation life cycle, which is developing the EGIT implementation program plan. Therefore, the correct answer is D. The other options are incorrect because they refer to different stages of the EGIT implementation life cycle that do not involve defining the success metrics. Option A refers to the second stage, which is defining the EGIT implementation road map. This stage involves identifying and prioritizing the improvement opportunities based on a gap analysis between the current and desired states of EGIT. Option B refers to the fourth stage, which is executing the EGIT implementation program plan. This stage involves implementing the improvement actions according to the plan, monitoring and controlling the progress and outcomes, and reporting on the results. Option C refers to the first stage, which is initiating an EGIT program. This stage involves establishing a clear vision and scope for the EGIT program, obtaining senior management commitment and sponsorship, and setting up a governance structure for the program. References: : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information & Technology Governance Solution, page 28 1 : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information & Technology Governance Solution, page 43 1 : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information & Technology Governance Solution, page 24 

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 targeted capability levels are the desired levels of performance that an enterprise wants to achieve for its information and technology governance and management processes, based on its strategy, objectives, needs, and expectations. The targeted capability levels provide a basis for defining the improvement goals and objectives for the processes. The capability-level gap analysis is a process that involves comparing the current capability levels of an enterprise’s information and technology governance and management processes with the targeted capability levels, and identifying the gaps or differences between them. The capability-level gap analysis helps to determine the improvement actions and initiatives that are required to close the gaps and achieve the targeted capability levels. The primary benefit or output derived from setting targeted capability levels and performing a capability-level gap analysis for selected processes is identification of process improvement opportunities. This means that by setting targeted capability levels and performing a capability-level gap analysis for selected processes, an enterprise can identify the areas of weakness or inefficiency in its information and technology governance and management processes, and determine the potential solutions or enhancements that can improve its process performance, quality, value, etc. This will also help to align the information and technology governance system with the enterprise’s strategy and objectives.References: : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: page 53-54 : COBIT 2019 Process Assessment Model: page 11-13

 The number of confidentiality incidents causing financial loss, business disruption or public embarrassment would be the best metric to enable an enterprise to evaluate an alignment goal specifically related to security of information and privacy. A metric is a quantifiable measure that is used to track and assess the status of a specific process or activity. An alignment goal is an intermediate goal that links the enterprise goals with the governance and management objectives. Security of information and privacy is one of the 17 generic alignment goals defined by COBIT that describes how information and technology can support the protection of sensitive information and personal data. The number of confidentiality incidents causing financial loss, business disruption or public embarrassment is a metric that reflects how well this alignment goal is achieved.12 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance System

 A due diligence review is a process that involves conducting a comprehensive analysis and assessment of an enterprise’s information and technology assets, capabilities, risks, issues, opportunities, etc., before making a significant decision or transaction. A due diligence review helps to ensure that an enterprise has a clear understanding of the current state and potential impacts of its information and technology activities on its strategy, objectives, performance, value, etc., as well as on its compliance with relevant laws, regulations, standards, guidelines, contracts, or agreements. It is critical to perform a due diligence review following a merger, acquisition, or divestiture event. A merger is an event that involves combining two or more enterprises into one entity. An acquisition is an event that involves one enterprise purchasing another enterprise or its assets. A divestiture is an event that involves one enterprise selling or transferring part of its business or assets to another enterprise. By performing a due diligence review following a merger acquisition or divestiture event an enterprise can ensure that it has identified and addressed any information and technology related risks issues gaps etc., that may arise from the integration or separation of information and technology assets capabilities processes systems structures culture etc., that it has aligned its information and technology governance and management with its new strategy objectives needs expectations etc., that it has optimized its information and technology performance and value delivery etc34 References: 3: COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives: page 20-21 4: COBIT 2019 Design Guide: page 47-48

 The COBIT performance model is integrated into the COBIT core model. The COBIT core model consists of two main elements: the governance and management objectives (which define what needs to be achieved) and the performance model (which defines how well it needs to be achieved). The performance model is based on existing maturity and capability models (such as ISO/IEC 15504) and provides a common language to measure and communicate performance. The performance model consists of six levels (from 0 to 5) that describe the increasing degree of capability for each governance or management objective.15 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance System

 COBIT defines stakeholder value creation as the realization of benefits at an optimal resource cost while optimizing risk. This is based on the principle of balance, which states that “governance of enterprise I&T should ensure that stakeholder needs, conditions and options are evaluated to determine balanced, agreed-on enterprise objectives to be achieved; setting direction through prioritization and decision making; and monitoring performance and compliance against agreed-on direction and objectives” . Value creation is not only about reducing costs or mitigating risks, but also about optimizing them in relation to the expected benefits. 

The flexibility of COBIT design factors benefits an enterprise by allowing users to tailor the framework to align with specific enterprise needs. COBIT is a comprehensive governance and management framework for information and technology that helps enterprises to achieve their goals and create value. COBIT design factors are characteristics or aspects of an enterprise that influence the design and implementation of a governance system. They include factors such as enterprise size, industry sector, risk profile, regulatory environment, sourcing model, etc. The flexibility of COBIT design factors benefits an enterprise by allowing users to tailor the framework to align with specific enterprise needs by providing guidance on how to customize and adapt the COBIT components (such as processes, practices, goals, metrics, etc.) based on the design factors.14 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) has been used as a basis for developing guidance for the COBIT governance component of people, skills and competencies. SFIA is a globally recognized framework that describes the skills required by professionals who work with information and technology2, p. 36. References: 2: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology

The enterprise’s risk profile is the most important enterprise risk management concept to fully understand prior to finalizing the design of an IT governance system. Enterprise risk management is the process of identifying, analyzing, evaluating, treating, monitoring, and communicating risks that affect the achievement of enterprise objectives. Enterprise risk management concepts include risk appetite (the amount and type of risk that an enterprise is willing to accept), risk tolerance (the acceptable variation in outcomes related to specific performance measures), risk profile (the overall exposure or level of risk that an enterprise faces), etc. The enterprise’s risk profile is the most important concept to fully understand prior to finalizing the design of an IT governance system because it helps to determine the appropriate level of risk optimization for each governance objective.14 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance System

 A primary consideration when addressing new issues within a flexible and open framework is maintaining integrity and consistency. This means that “the framework should be internally consistent; not contain contradictions or ambiguities; be complete in covering all relevant aspects of enterprise governance of I&T; and be coherent in its structure, terminology and presentation” 6. Maintaining integrity and consistency ensures that the framework is reliable, clear, and easy to use for all stakeholders7. References: 6: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, page 25 7: COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution, page 13

The organizational structures component of the governance system are the key decision-making entities in an enterprise. Organizational structures are the arrangements of roles and responsibilities that enable the enterprise to achieve its objectives. Organizational structures can be formal or informal, hierarchical or flat, centralized or decentralized, etc. Organizational structures can include entities such as board, executive management, committees, forums, teams, units, etc. The organizational structures component of the governance system are the key decision-making entities in an enterprise by providing authority, accountability, direction, oversight, evaluation, etc., for information and technology.13 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Roles, Responsibilities & RACI Charts

The role of IT design factor describes how IT supports the enterprise strategy and objectives. Turnaround is a role of IT that is viewed as a driver for business process and service innovation, by enabling new ways of doing business, creating new sources of revenue, and enhancing customer satisfaction1, p. 29. References: 1: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology

 The most critical factor to ensuring the objective of managed availability and capacity is to predict future IT resource requirements based on current and projected business needs, service levels, and performance targets. This factor enables the enterprise to plan, provision, and optimize IT resources in a timely and cost-effective manner, while ensuring that IT services are delivered with sufficient availability and capacity to meet business demands. The factor is based on the COBIT 2019 Design Guide2, page 77. References: 2: COBIT 2019 Design Guide | Digital | English

 People, skills and competencies are essential for effective decision making within a governance system. People are the individuals or groups who perform or are accountable for the governance activities and tasks. Skills and competencies are the abilities and knowledge that people need to perform their roles and responsibilities. People, skills and competencies are one of the seven enablers of a governance system, as defined by COBIT.13 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance System

The management objective that would be given higher priority in an enterprise’s governance system when the enterprise is very risk-averse is managed portfolio. This objective relates to ensuring that IT-enabled investments are aligned with the enterprise’s risk appetite and tolerance levels, and that they deliver optimal value and benefits. This objective also involves managing the portfolio of IT-enabled investments throughout their life cycle, from initiation to retirement. The objective is based on the COBIT 2019 Design Guide3, page 71. References: 3: COBIT 2019 Design Guide | Digital | English

According to the COBIT 2019 Design Guide, a service manager is responsible for managing the development, implementation, evaluation and ongoing maintenance of new and existing products and services. A service manager ensures that the products and services meet the needs and expectations of the customers and stakeholders, and that they are aligned with the enterprise strategy and objectives. A service manager also monitors and reports on the performance and quality of the products and services, and initiates improvement actions when necessary.1, p. 64 References: 1: COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

The business case and program plan are essential documents that describe the rationale, objectives, scope, approach, benefits, costs, risks, and timeline of the EGIT implementation program. The business case and program plan provide the basis for obtaining approval, funding, resources, and support for the program from the stakeholders. Therefore, it is important that these documents are realistic and achievable, reflecting the current state and target state of information and technology governance in the enterprise. One of the roles that ensures the business case and program plan are realistic and achievable is the chief information officer (CIO), who is the senior executive responsible for leading and managing the information and technology function in the enterprise. The CIO has a role in developing, reviewing, validating, and approving the business case and program plan, ensuring that they are aligned with the enterprise’s strategy, objectives, needs, and expectations. The CIO also has a role in communicating and presenting the business case and program plan to other stakeholders such as the board, executives, business managers, IT managers, etc., and obtaining their buy-in and commitment for the program34 References: 3: COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide, page 39-40 4: COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives, page 20-21

 According to Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), Level 2 within the five maturity levels for processes best describes the outcome of the process achieving its purpose through the application of a basic, yet complete, set of activities that can be characterized as performed. CMMI is a process improvement approach that provides organizations with the essential elements of effective processes. CMMI defines five maturity levels for processes, from 1 (initial) to 5 (optimizing). Level 2 (managed) means that the process is planned and executed in accordance with policy; employs skilled people who have adequate resources to produce controlled outputs; involves relevant stakeholders; is monitored, controlled, and reviewed; and is evaluated for adherence to its process description.12 References: CMMI for Development, Version 1.3, CMMI Institute - Capability Maturity Model Integration

In COBIT 2019, enterprise governance of IT (EGIT) is an essential responsibility of the board. The board holds ultimate accountability for governance by setting direction, monitoring performance, and ensuring compliance with the enterprise’s goals. This responsibility includes establishing structures and mechanisms to support EGIT, which falls under the Evaluate, Direct, and Monitor (EDM) domain, specifically addressed in governance objective EDM01. The framework specifies that governance is led by the board, with executive management supporting execution​.

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.References: : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: page 33-48

The process ‘Ensured Stakeholder Engagement’ (EDM04) is one of the governance processes in COBIT 2019 that involves establishing transparent communication with stakeholders about their needs and expectations from information and technology governance. This process also involves ensuring stakeholder involvement in governance decision making and monitoring stakeholder satisfaction with governance outcomes. One of the roles that is best suited for this responsibility is the board and executive management, who are the highest-level governance body and decision makers in an enterprise. The board and executive management have a duty to ensure that they understand the needs and expectations of various stakeholders such as shareholders, regulators, customers, employees, suppliers, etc., and that they communicate effectively with them about the enterprise’s strategy, objectives, performance, risks, issues, opportunities, etc., related to information and technology governance. The board and executive management also have a responsibility to involve stakeholders in governance decision making by soliciting their input, feedback, opinions, suggestions, etc., and by considering their interests and perspectives when making governance choices. The board and executive management also have a role in monitoring stakeholder satisfaction with governance outcomes by measuring stakeholder value realization from information and technology investments and initiatives.References: : COBIT 2019 Process Reference Guide: Governance and Management Objectives, page 25-27 : COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives, page 19-20

 An enterprise goal is a high-level statement of what the enterprise wants to achieve, aligned with the mission, vision and values of the enterprise. Portfolio of competitive services is an enterprise goal that would most likely be evaluated by using a metric “percent of services that meet or exceed targets in revenues and market share”, as it reflects the need to offer products and services that are attractive to customers and differentiate the enterprise from its competitors2, p. 17. References: 2: COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives

Using the COBIT 2019 Governance System Design Workflow allows enterprises to realize a governance system that is tailored to their needs. The COBIT 2019 Governance System Design Workflow is a set of steps that guide enterprises in designing a customized governance system based on their specific context, goals, issues, and priorities. The workflow helps enterprises to identify their current state, desired state, gaps, improvement opportunities, design factors, governance components, roles, responsibilities, practices, activities, inputs, outputs, goals, metrics, and road map for implementing their governance system. The workflow also helps enterprises to balance competing requirements and resolve conflicts among stakeholders. By following the workflow, enterprises can design a governance system that fits their unique needs and delivers value to their business. References: : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information & Technology Governance Solution, page 29 2 : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information & Technology Governance Solution, page 31

The Deliver, Service and Support (DSS) domain incorporates managed business process controls as one of its management objectives. The DSS domain covers the activities related to delivering IT services to internal and external customers, supporting IT operations and users, managing service requests, incidents, problems, continuity, security, availability, capacity, etc. The DSS domain consists of 6 management objectives that describe the desired outcomes of these activities.14 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives

The information flow and items component of COBIT includes a list of artifacts with links to relevant governance and management practices. An artifact is a tangible or intangible object that is produced, modified, or used by a process or activity. An artifact can be a document, a report, a record, a plan, a policy, a procedure, a service, a product, etc. The information flow and items component of COBIT provides a comprehensive list of artifacts that are relevant for each governance and management objective, as well as links to the practices that produce, modify, or use them.12 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance System

 An enterprise will often fail to realize implementation commitments during the execution of an EGIT implementation program plan if it focuses on enabling IT value over business value. IT value is the contribution of IT to achieving enterprise objectives, while business value is the overall benefit that the enterprise derives from its use of information and technology. Focusing on IT value over business value may result in a disconnect between IT and business stakeholders, a lack of alignment between IT goals and business strategy, or a failure to deliver expected benefits or outcomes. Therefore, it is important to balance both IT value and business value when implementing a governance system. The answer is based on the COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide3, page 38. References: 3: COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide | Digital | English

 One of the benefits derived from the use of COBIT is that it helps to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations. This benefit is primarily associated with an external stakeholder, such as a regulator, auditor, customer, or partner, who expects the enterprise to adhere to certain standards and requirements. COBIT provides guidance on how to align the governance and management of enterprise IT with relevant laws, regulations, and contractual obligations12. COBIT also helps to establish and maintain a compliance culture and program within the enterprise3. References: 1: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, page 17 2: COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives, page 19 3: COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution, page 77

The different levels of involvement associated with roles and organizational structure are primarily divided into responsibility and accountability levels. Responsibility and accountability are two key concepts that define the degree of involvement and authority that a role has in performing a task or process. Responsibility means performing or overseeing a task or process, while accountability means being answerable for the outcome or result of a task or process. COBIT uses a RACI chart to assign different levels of responsibility and accountability to roles and organizational structures for each governance and management objective.13 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Roles, Responsibilities & RACI Charts

The enterprise goal titled quality of management information is within the customer dimension of the IT balanced scorecard. The customer dimension focuses on how well the enterprise meets the needs and expectations of its customers and stakeholders. Quality of management information is one of the 17 generic enterprise goals defined by COBIT that supports the customer dimension. It describes the desired outcome of providing accurate, timely, relevant, and reliable information to support decision making and performance management.13 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives

 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.12 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

 The IT implementation methods design factor describes how an enterprise develops, delivers, and maintains its IT solutions. DevOps is an IT implementation method that emphasizes collaboration, automation, integration, and feedback between the development and operations teams throughout the software development life cycle. One of the management objectives that should be prioritized when using DevOps is managed solution identification and build (BAI03), which involves defining, designing, building, testing, and deploying IT solutions that meet stakeholder requirements and expectations. This management objective supports the DevOps principles of continuous delivery, continuous integration, continuous testing, and continuous deployment, which aim to deliver high-quality IT solutions faster and more reliably.References: : COBIT 2019 Design Guide, page 43-45 : COBIT 2019 Process Reference Guide, page 67-69

The alignment goal titled “Delivery of IT services in line with business requirements” is most likely to be associated with the metric “percent of IT services with defined operational costs and expected benefits”. This metric measures the extent to which IT services are aligned with business needs and expectations, and deliver value for money. The alignment goal is one of the 17 enterprise goals defined in COBIT 2019, which describe the outcomes that an enterprise wants to achieve from its use of information and technology. The alignment goal is based on the COBIT 2019 Framework4, page 36. References: 4: COBIT 2019 Framework | Digital | English

The pursuit of continuous improvement is the most essential attribute of the highest process capability level (Level 5). A process capability level is a measure of how well a process or activity is performed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, completeness, reliability, etc. A process capability level can range from 0 (incomplete) to 5 (optimizing). Level 5 (optimizing) means that the process continuously improves its performance through both incremental and innovative improvements. The pursuit of continuous improvement is the most essential attribute of Level 5, as it implies that the process is constantly monitored, evaluated, learned from, and enhanced.14 References: CMMI for Development, Version 1.3, CMMI Institute - Capability Maturity Model Integration

 When tailoring the COBIT organization structure to organizational context and priorities, the next step after mapping organizational structures with specific responsibility or accountability is to add two levels of involvement for consulted and informed. This step helps to identify the stakeholders who need to be involved in the decision-making process, either by providing input or feedback (consulted), or by being notified of the outcomes or actions (informed). This step is based on the COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide2, page 46. References: 2: COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide | Digital | English

 Processes are key components of a governance system. Processes are the structured sets of activities that produce outputs or outcomes for achieving specific objectives. Processes define what needs to be done, by whom, when, how, and why. Processes are one of the seven enablers of a governance system, as defined by COBIT.12 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance System

The process practices that include inputs and outputs comprise the information flow component of a governance system. A governance system is a set of components that provide direction, oversight, evaluation, monitoring, assurance, etc., for an enterprise’s information and technology. A governance system consists of seven components: governance components (such as structures, processes, principles, policies, etc.), governance enablers (such as people, skills, culture, information, services, etc.), governance outcomes (such as value creation, risk optimization, resource optimization, etc.), information flow (the exchange of information among components), culture (the shared values, beliefs, norms, and attitudes), ethical behavior (the conduct that conforms to moral principles), stakeholder needs (the requirements or expectations of internal or external stakeholders). The information flow component comprises the process practices that include inputs and outputs that enable the exchange of information among components.14 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance System

 Design factors are based on generic components of a governance system but are tailored for a specific purpose or context within a focus area. Design factors are the characteristics or aspects of an enterprise that influence the design and implementation of a governance system. They include factors such as enterprise size, industry sector, risk profile, regulatory environment, sourcing model, etc. Focus areas are topics or issues that can be addressed by governance objectives, such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, privacy, etc. COBIT provides guidance on how to use design factors and focus areas to customize a governance system.13 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

 The alignment goal “Delivery of I&T services in line with business requirements” is organized into the customer dimension of the IT balanced scorecard (BSC). The IT BSC is a strategic performance management tool that helps enterprises to translate their IT vision and strategy into operational objectives and measures. The IT BSC consists of four dimensions: customer, financial, internal, and learning and growth. The customer dimension focuses on how well IT meets the needs and expectations of its customers and stakeholders. Delivery of I&T services in line with business requirements is one of the 17 generic alignment goals defined by COBIT that supports the customer dimension.12 References: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance System

The risk profile of an enterprise is a design factor that describes how an enterprise identifies, assesses, responds to, monitors, and reports on information and technology risks. The risk profile helps to determine the level of risk appetite and tolerance that an enterprise has for its information and technology activities, as well as the level of control and assurance that is required for its governance framework. When reviewing the risk profile of an enterprise during the governance design phase, one of the prerequisites that must be established prior to conducting a high-level risk analysis is the enterprise’s risk appetite. The risk appetite is the amount and type of risk that an enterprise is willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives. The risk appetite provides a basis for defining the risk criteria, thresholds, indicators, and responses that will be used in the risk analysis process. The risk appetite also helps to align the governance framework with the enterprise’s strategy and objectives.References: : COBIT 2019 Design Guide, page 41-43 : COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, page 28-29

 A key principle associated with the Accountable (A) role of an organizational structure is that accountability cannot be shared. This means that only one person can be accountable for each activity or decision, and that person is ultimately liable for the success and achievement of the assigned tasks2, p. 34. References: 2: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology

 The objectives of the Evaluate, Direct and Monitor (EDM) domain are best described by assessing strategic options and guiding senior management on the options chosen. This domain covers the governance activities related to setting direction, monitoring performance, ensuring compliance, and providing feedback to stakeholders. The domain consists of five governance objectives: EDM01 Ensure Governance Framework Setting and Maintenance, EDM02 Ensure Benefits Delivery, EDM03 Ensure Risk Optimization, EDM04 Ensure Resource Optimization, and EDM05 Ensure Stakeholder Transparency. The domain is based on the COBIT 2019 Framework2, page 30. References: 2: COBIT 2019 Framework | Digital | English

The initial scope of a governance system is the extent and boundaries of the governance system that an enterprise intends to design and implement using COBIT 2019. The initial scope helps to define the focus and direction of the governance system design process, as well as the resources and efforts required for its implementation. One of the key considerations when determining the initial scope of a governance system is the compliance requirements faced by the enterprise. The compliance requirements are the laws, regulations, standards, guidelines, contracts, or agreements that an enterprise must comply with regarding its information and technology activities. The compliance requirements influence the level of control and assurance that an enterprise needs to demonstrate its adherence to the applicable rules and obligations. By considering the compliance requirements when determining the initial scope of a governance system, an enterprise can ensure that its governance system is appropriate for its context and objectives, and that it can effectively manage the potential impacts of non-compliance on its reputation, performance, value, and stakeholder trust.References: : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: page 47-48 : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: page 53-54

 An element of governance is evaluating stakeholder needs to determine enterprise objectives. This is based on the principle of stakeholder value, which states that “governance of enterprise I&T should ensure that stakeholder needs, conditions and options are evaluated to determine balanced, agreed-on enterprise objectives to be achieved; setting direction through prioritization and decision making; and monitoring performance and compliance against agreed-on direction and objectives” 1. Evaluating stakeholder needs involves identifying who the stakeholders are, what their interests and expectations are, and how they can influence or be influenced by the enterprise’s activities2. References: 1: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, page 23 2: COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives, page 18

The role or structure formed by a group of stakeholders and experts accountable for guiding IT-related matters and decisions is the executive committee. This committee is responsible for setting the direction, policies, and objectives for IT governance and management, as well as overseeing the performance, risk, and compliance of IT. The committee is composed of senior executives from both business and IT functions, and may also include external advisors or experts. The committee is based on the COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide1, page 43. References: 1: COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide | Digital | English

The business case outline is a document that provides a high-level overview of the rationale, objectives, scope, approach, benefits, costs, risks, and timeline of the EGIT implementation program. The EGIT implementation program is a program that involves designing and implementing a governance system for an enterprise using COBIT 2019. The business case outline provides the basis for obtaining approval in principle from the stakeholders for initiating the EGIT implementation program. The business case outline is a key input to be considered when defining drivers for a COBIT implementation. The drivers are the internal and external factors that trigger or influence the need for designing and implementing a governance system for an enterprise using COBIT 2019. The drivers include aspects such as business strategy objectives performance risks issues opportunities etc., information and technology strategy objectives performance risks issues opportunities etc., stakeholder needs expectations requirements etc., standards guidelines regulations best practices etc., market conditions competitive pressures customer demands etc., etc. By considering the business case outline when defining drivers for a COBIT implementation an enterprise can ensure that it has a clear understanding of why it needs to design and implement a governance system using COBIT 2019 what are the expected outcomes benefits value etc.,

The final step in governance system design is to define target capability levels for the most critical objectives. 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. The final step in governance system design is to define target capability levels for the most critical objectives. 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 critical objectives are the governance and management objectives that have been prioritized based on the design factors and the stakeholder needs. The governance and management objectives are the statements of what an enterprise wants to achieve in terms of its information and technology governance. The governance and management objectives are derived from the enterprise goals, which are the high-level statements of what an enterprise wants to achieve in terms of its mission, vision, values, strategy, etc. By defining target capability levels for the most critical objectives as the final step in governance system design, an enterprise can ensure that it has set realistic and achievable goals for its information and technology governance and management processes that support its strategy and objectives. This will also help to identify the gaps or issues that need to be addressed to enhance the capability levels of the selected processes.References: : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: page 53-54 : COBIT 2019 Process Assessment Model: page 11-13

 COBIT addresses governance issues by grouping relevant governance components into objectives that can be managed to a required capability level. This is based on the principle of performance, which states that “governance of enterprise I&T should ensure that I&T performance is measured using relevant metrics; transparently communicated to stakeholders; evaluated against targets; and leads to appropriate management actions” . COBIT does not provide a full description of the entire IT environment or define specific governance strategies and processes, but rather provides a generic and flexible framework that can be adapted to different contexts and situations. 

Ensuring the program team knows and understands the enterprise goals is a part of the “Where do we want to be?” phase of the implementation. The implementation of a governance system is divided into seven phases, each with a set of activities and outputs. The “Where do we want to be?” phase involves defining the desired outcomes and target state of the governance system, based on the enterprise’s vision, mission, values, and goals. One of the activities in this phase is to ensure that the program team is aware of and aligned with the enterprise goals, as well as their roles and responsibilities in achieving them. The answer is based on the COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide2, page 34. References: 2: COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide | Digital | English

 An IT implementation method design factor is a characteristic that influences how an enterprise implements IT solutions and services. DevOps is an IT implementation method that focuses on software building, deployment and operations, by integrating development and operations teams to improve collaboration and productivity1, p. 31. References: 1: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology

The risk profile is a design factor that describes how an enterprise identifies, assesses, responds to, monitors, and reports on information and technology risks. The risk profile helps to determine the level of risk appetite and tolerance that an enterprise has for its information and technology activities, as well as the level of control and assurance that is required for its governance framework. When tailoring COBIT 2019 to enterprise requirements, the primary objective of preparing a risk profile is to identify areas of risk that exceed risk appetite. The risk appetite is the amount and type of risk that an enterprise is willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives. The risk appetite provides a basis for defining the risk criteria, thresholds, indicators, and responses that will be used in the risk profile process. By identifying areas of risk that exceed risk appetite, an enterprise can prioritize its governance objectives, processes, practices, roles, structures, and metrics according to the level of risk exposure and impact. This will also help to align the governance framework with the enterprise’s strategy and objectives.References: : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: page 41-43 : COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology: page 28-29

 The IT balanced scorecard (BSC) is a tool that helps to measure and communicate the achievement of IT goals in relation to enterprise goals, using four dimensions: financial, customer, internal, and learning and growth. The alignment goal titled “Enabling and supporting business processes by integrating applications and technology” is aligned to the internal dimension of the IT BSC, as it relates to the efficiency and effectiveness of IT processes that support business processes2, p. 20. References: 2: COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives

COBIT 2019 provides a comprehensive framework to support the decision-making process rather than prescribing specific solutions. It guides the structuring of governance and management objectives across different domains, such as EDM, APO, and BAI, enabling stakeholders to understand the components and decision levels required for efficient IT governance. This aligns with COBIT's goals to establish clear responsibilities and decision-making criteria for various roles, ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives and stakeholder needs​.

The information security function within the IT corporate structure is responsible for classifying information using an agreed-upon classification scheme for a new data collection system. According to the COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide, information security is one of the key enablers of IT governance and management, and it includes the processes and practices for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets. One of the activities of information security is to define and implement an information classification scheme that categorizes information based on its sensitivity, criticality, and value to the enterprise. This scheme helps to determine the appropriate level of protection and controls for different types of information, especially for new data collection systems that may involve personal or sensitive data. References: : COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide: Implementing and Optimizing an Information and Technology Governance Solution, page 15 1 : COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information & Technology Governance Solution, page 62 .

The best starting point when translating enterprise goals into actionable governance and management objectives is prioritized enterprise goals. The enterprise goals are the high-level statements of what an enterprise wants to achieve in terms of its mission, vision, values, strategy, etc. The enterprise goals are aligned with the stakeholder needs that reflect the expectations and requirements of various internal and external parties that have an interest or stake in the enterprise’s information and technology activities. The prioritized enterprise goals are the subset of enterprise goals that have been ranked according to their importance or urgency for the enterprise based on its context and needs. By starting with prioritized enterprise goals when translating them into actionable governance and management objectives, an enterprise can ensure that it focuses on the most critical aspects of its information and technology governance that support its strategy and objectives. This will also help to align its information and technology activities with its stakeholder needs34 References: 3: COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology: page 25-26 4: COBIT 2019 Design Guide: page 35-36