Define IT governance.

IT governance is defined as a framework that ensures IT investments support business goals and deliver value. This concept emphasizes the alignment of IT strategies with business objectives, enabling organizations to manage their IT resources effectively to achieve overall success. By focusing on both the planning and execution of technology initiatives, IT governance helps organizations maximize the return on their IT investments while ensuring that IT efforts contribute directly to business performance.

Effective IT governance encompasses various practices, policies, and processes that guide decision-making around IT systems and projects. These include establishing roles and responsibilities, prioritizing IT projects based on their alignment with business goals, and measuring the outcomes of IT initiatives to assess their contribution to the organization. By providing a structured approach, IT governance helps organizations navigate the challenges posed by rapid technological advancement and changing business conditions, ensuring that IT systems serve the strategic needs of the business.

Other choices do not fully capture the comprehensive nature of IT governance. While managing budgets (first option) and compliance (fourth option) are components of IT oversight, they do not address the broader objective of aligning IT with business strategy. Similarly, a platform for software development (second option) does not encompass the governance perspective that focuses on strategy and value delivery.