The Align, Plan, and Organize (APO) domain of COBIT 2019 includes fundamental processes to direct IT governance and management.
Its objective is to ensure that IT is aligned with business goals, promoting innovation, efficiency and security.
In total, the APO brings together 14 essential processes, which structure everything from strategy to risk management and corporate data.
Process Details
APO 01 – Managed IT Management Structure
Objective: Design the IT management system based on corporate goals.
Guidelines:
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Implement all necessary components of the management system.
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Define clear processes, roles and responsibilities.
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Ensure compliance with standards such as ISO/IEC 20000.
Learn more about IT governance and COBIT at 4MATT.
APO 02 – Managed Strategy
Objective: Provide a holistic view of business and IT, defining future direction.
Guidelines:
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Assess digital maturity.
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Connecting initiatives to digital transformation.
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Integrate changes into channels, processes and organizational culture.
APO 03 – Architecture Managed Corporate
Objective: Define an integrated enterprise architecture to increase agility and reduce costs.
Guidelines:
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Create models for processes, data and technology.
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Establish standards and taxonomies.
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Reuse components to reduce costs.
APO 04 – Managed Innovation
Objective: Monitor trends and identify innovation opportunities.
Guidelines:
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Explore emerging technologies.
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Support digital architecture and strategy decisions.
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Gain competitive advantage and better customer experience
APO 05 – Managed Portfolio
Objective: Align IT investments with organizational strategy.
Guidelines:
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Evaluate, prioritize and monitor project portfolio.
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Adjust initiatives according to performance and strategic changes.
APO 06 – Managed Budget and Costs
Objective: Manage IT financial resources with transparency and efficiency.
Guidelines:
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Control costs and benefits.
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Establish partnerships between IT and business areas.
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Follow good practices such as ITIL Financial Management.
See how reduce software licensing costs.
APO 07 – Managed Human Resources
Objective: Ensure recruitment, training and management of IT talent.
Guidelines:
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Continuously plan and evaluate competencies.
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Optimize talent to meet business objectives.
APO 08 – Managed Relationships
Objective: Transparently manage relationships with stakeholders.
Guidelines:
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Establish clear communication.
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Promote collaboration between IT and business areas
APO 09 – Managed Service Contracts
Objective: Align service levels with business expectations.
Guidelines:
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Define SLAs and monitor KPIs.
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Ensure that services meet current and future demands.
APO 10 – Managed Suppliers
Objective: Ensure the performance and competitiveness of IT suppliers.
Guidelines:
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Select and monitor suppliers.
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Minimize risks of external failures.
APO 11 – Managed Quality
Objective: Maintain quality standards in IT processes and services.
Guidelines:
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Implement controls and continuous audits.
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Improve efficiency and reliability.
APO 12 – Managed Risk
Objective: Identify, assess and mitigate IT risks.
Guidelines:
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Integrate with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM).
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Balancing the costs and benefits of risk controls.
APO 13 – Managed Security
Objective: Ensure information security and reduce incidents.
Guidelines:
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Monitor vulnerabilities.
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Keep risks within acceptable levels.
Read more about information security and compliance.
APO 14 – Managed Data
Objective: Ensure data governance throughout the lifecycle.
Guidelines:
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Control data creation, maintenance and archiving.
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Use critical data to achieve corporate objectives.
Conclusion
O APO domain of COBIT 2019 It is essential for IT to add strategic value to the business, maintaining governance, security and innovation.
Companies that apply these processes:
– Optimize costs and resources.
– Ensure strategic alignment.
– Reduce operational risks and failures.
– They enhance digital innovation.
Translated by 4MATT Tecnologia from the original “Process Symphony: Align, Plan and Organize (COBIT 2019).