As cities and towns continue to feel the effects of urbanisation, city planners are also feeling the heat. With ever-increasing populations and dwindling resources, how then can planners efficiently use resources while continuing to meet stakeholder demands at the same time? 

Using COBIT 5 training, a framework for the governance and management of IT, planners and managers can more readily satisfy stakeholder needs. 

Governing a city

In any city the biggest stakeholder is always its citizens. Trying to improve the quality of life enjoyed by city-dwellers is a major policy requirement. 

City managers and planners are responsible for providing services to their stakeholders in an effective and efficient manner. Services such as utilities, sanitation, and road maintenance are just a few of the many functioning systems a modern city should have.

Planners in particular are tasked with developing, building, managing and maintaining a city's infrastructure. For this task, IT services are essential.

How can COBIT 5 help a planner?

COBIT 5 is a business framework for the management of enterprise IT. Using a range of tools, techniques, processes and models, framework users can better manage risk and resources, while increasing the value of IT services. 

One component of IT governance training is COBIT 5's goal cascade. It allows planners to create an actionable strategy out of stakeholder needs. The mechanism translates stakeholder needs into flexible enterprise, IT-related and enabler goals. 

How can stakeholder needs be better satisfied by COBIT 5?

Lets take a look at the four steps needed:

1. Stakeholder needs. Their needs are influenced by environmental pressures such as regulations and policy shifts.
2. Enterprise goals. These goals are derived partially from stakeholder needs. COBIT 5 organises them into four categories, with 17 goals that are flexible enough to fit in with organisational goals. 
3. IT-related goals. Enterprise goals and IT-related goals are typically entwined. Enterprise goals are mapped onto relevant IT-related goals. 
4. Enabler goals. To achieve IT-related goals specific enablers need to be applied. 

By linking the needs of stakeholders with enablers, decision-making can be fully justified. 

Users can customise COBIT 5 through their goals cascade, which allows them to apply this framework to a range of issues.

Importantly, COBIT 5 is excellent at linking the small and big pictures that tend to get lost in larger organisations. Through this chart, an enterprise can break down its goals into more manageable ones while simultaneously linking them to specific IT-related goals. . 

Using COBIT 5 planners will be able to better develop goals that balance the needs of stakeholders with the organisational need of risk and resource optimisation. 

There are a range of COBIT 5 training courses to help you better fulfill stakeholder needs. Contact a service provider today.