Question 511 - CGEIT discussion

The first thing that a new CIO should do to set the strategic direction for IT is to review the existing enterprise strategic objectives. The enterprise strategic objectives are the high-level goals and priorities that guide the organization's vision, mission, and value creation. The CIO should understand the current state and desired state of the enterprise, as well as the opportunities, challenges, and risks that it faces. The CIO should also assess how IT supports and enables the enterprise strategic objectives, and identify any gaps, issues, or areas for improvement.

The other options are not the first thing that a new CIO should do to set the strategic direction for IT. Developing well-defined business cases that include strategic outcomes is part of the IT investment management process, which involves selecting, prioritizing, approving, and funding IT projects and initiatives that deliver value to the enterprise. Remapping stakeholder analysis and desired expectations is part of the stakeholder engagement process, which involves identifying, communicating, and managing the needs and expectations of the internal and external stakeholders of IT. Redesigning detailed RACI charts of the IT function is part of the IT organizational design process, which involves defining and assigning the roles, responsibilities, authorities, and accountabilities of the IT staff and units.

According to the CGEIT Review Manual 2022, 'The first step in developing an IT strategy is to understand the enterprise strategy.This involves analyzing the enterprise vision, mission, goals, objectives, value drivers, critical success factors, and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats).'1

According to the ISACA article on How to Develop an Effective IT Strategy2, ''The first step in developing an effective IT strategy is to understand your organization's business strategy. This will help you align your IT goals with your business goals and ensure that your IT investments support your business objectives.''

According to the CIO article on How to create an effective IT strategy3, ''The first step in creating an effective IT strategy is to understand what your business is trying to achieve. This means reviewing your business strategy and identifying the key drivers of value and competitive advantage for your organization.''