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Exhibit 3-3 — Control environment aspects of COBIT and COSO
COBIT – Plan and Organize COSO – Control Environment
PO1 – Define IT strategic plan Integrity and ethical values
PO2 – Define information architecture Board of directors
PO3 – Determine technological direction Management’s philosophy and operating
PO4 – Define IT organization/relationships style
PO5 – Manage IT investment Organizational structure
PO6 – Communicate management goals and Financial reporting competencies
direction Authority and responsibility
PO7 – Manage human resources Human resources (of IT function)
PO8 – Ensure compliance with external
requirements
PO9 – Assess risks
PO10 – Manage projects
PO11 – Manage quality
For instance, Walmart has a high-tech strategic approach to the supply chain, which they refer to
as quick response. It involves bar coding, data mining, just-in-time (JIT) inventory, electronic data
interchange (EDI), and other technologies.
Walmart also uses a strong control environment, the principles mentioned herein; therefore, when
a business unit manager asks for new IT or updates to IT, the business case would need to show
how the project will enhance Walmart’s ability to have an effective and especially efficient supply
chain — which is its unique financial and strategic advantage in the market — in order to gain
capital funds for the IT project.
Controls would need to be in place to make sure these objectives are being met.
One control would be a group to report to the BoD about the IT function as it relates to strategic
planning on a regular basis. That could be a subcommittee of the BoD, or a cross-functional IT
steering committee, or even another form. This body would manage the capital budget funds, award
IT projects, prioritize IT projects, oversee major IT projects, and in general, make sure that the IT
function is satisfying the entity’s needs related to strategic use of IT.
IT governance principles
The principles of IT governance cover strategy and planning, value delivery management, resource
management, risk management, and performance management.
Strategy and planning
Executive management’s role of planning includes the IT function. Whether it is several documents or a
single composite strategic plan, the outcome should be a document or set of documents that define the
IT function.
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