ACS Stresses Need for Better ICT Governance

Tuesday 5 March 2002 - The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has highlighted the need for better Information and Communications Technology (ICT) governance by Australian businesses.

ACS President, Richard Hogg, has told delegates at today's CIO2002 Conference in Sydney that ICT governance must be given a higher priority or businesses risk facing adverse consequences.

Presenting the Opening Address of the prestigious conference, Mr Hogg said technology was a key, strategic element of the business requiring substantial financial investment, but also carried with it a significant range of legal, social and ethical issues that must be managed effectively.

"Just as ICT Managers are having to broaden their skills to better understand the business structure and processes they are required to support, so must boards enhance their awareness of the various issues associated with IT. Corporate boards must learn what questions to ask about ICT governance," he said.

Mr Hogg said many Australian boards were over-reliant on consultants to report on ICT issues when they should be developing an ability to self-assess the ICT governance practices of the organisation.

"It is poor corporate governance to push ICT governance down to the IT manager level. ICT is an integral part of their business and ICT governance is an integral part of corporate governance. Just awareness is no longer enough - true understanding of ICT is now required," he stressed

Mr Hogg told delegates one of the biggest lessons learned by corporate America out of the September 11 tragedy was the realisation that while technology underpinned their business, it could also bring it down.

"Security threats, the loss of data or lack of access to it all have serious implications for an organisation's ability to function effectively and carry out its core business. Aligning the ICT and business strategies in 2002 requires not only a solid business case for the infrastructure or applications being delivered, but a strategy to ensure continuity of service in adverse circumstances."

He also pointed to Australia's new privacy regime as a good example of the ICT governance issues facing businesses today, saying the Privacy Principles place additional pressure on CIOs to understand and manage the way in which they gather, use, store, secure, and disclose personal information.

"CIOs today must negotiate a potential minefield as a result of their new responsibilities in privacy that came into effect in December. The ramifications are complex and potentially expensive, especially in light of the dramatic growth of customer relationship management applications in recent years," he said.

While Mr Hogg said the US had already introduced a new role of Chief Privacy Officer to address these concerns, in Australia privacy issues were still largely the domain of CIOs.

This media release is available on the ACS Web site at http://www.acs.org.au/news/050302.htm

ENDS

The Australian Computer Society is the recognised association for information technology (IT) professionals, attracting a large and active membership from all levels of the IT industry and providing a wide range of services to its 16,000+ members. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the public voice of the IT profession and the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the IT industry, with a commitment to the wider community to ensure the beneficial use of IT.See the ACS Home Page for more information.

Richard Hogg, ACS National President, Tel: (0408) 549 531, Email: richard_hogg@acslink.net.au

Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9555 1986 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au