Corporate Governance tools that influence the Government information Technology Officers (GITOs) in South Africa’s Public Sector

Abstract

There is a need for legislation, guidelines, and organizational structures in the management of Information Systems (IS) in South Africa’s public sector to ensure that technological solutions support strategic direction. This study synthesizes feedback received from 55 GITOs (Government IT Officers) to understand tools that shape IS operations and corporate governance. The findings provide a complex picture of governance and can be regarded as follows: There are acts such as the Financial Management Acts and ICT laws, which set standards dealing in accountability and security other frameworks include the DPSA’s: Corporate Governance of ICT Policy Framework (CGICTPF), the King IV, COBIT, and ITIL. These principles are given effect through internal governance instruments such as the ICT steering committees and the audit committees. The findings are presented using bar graphs, which indicate that more than half the identified GITOs consider essential tools such as the CGICTPF, PFMA, and audit committees. These findings of the study are connected to the previous literature with considerations of comparability with international standards and areas of concern, including resource limitation as well as the trade-off between conformity and creativity. Finally, it outlines recommendations for improving the IS governance in the context of the South African public sector, including the need for constant improvement of frameworks and the improvement of IS leadership competencies for public sector IT professionals.