IT governance can be defined as specifying decision rights and accountability framework to encourage desirable behavior in the use of IT (Weill & Ross, 2004). This is the definition we will use here.
Other definitions are for example:
IT governance is the structures and processes that ensure that IT supports the organization's mission. The purpose is to align IT with the enterprise, maximize the benefits of IT, use IT resources responsibly, and manage IT risks,
A structure of relationships and processes to direct and control the enterprise in order to achieve the enterprise's goals by adding value while balancing risk versus return over IT and its processes,
IT governance is the responsibility of the board of directors and executive management. It is an integral part of enterprise governance and consists of the leadership and organizational structures and processes that ensure that the organization's IT sustains and extends the organization's strategies and objectives, and
IT governance is the system by which an organization's IT portfolio is directed and controlled. IT Governance describes
The distribution of decision-making rights and responsibilities among different stakeholders in the organization, and
The rules and procedures for making and monitoring decisions on strategic IT concerns (Peterson, 2004).
An extensive definition was presented by the IT Governance Institute (2004) as follows. It is a board or senior management responsibility in relation to IT to ensure that: