Abstract
M.Tech.
There is currently a lot of research work being done to gain insight into the value proposition for IT governance frameworks and different other variables that have significant bearing on successful implementation of IT governance in South African organizations. There has however been no adequate research conducted on how Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy and more specifically the four significant elements of the BEE scorecard (ownership, preferential procurement, skills development and management and control) affect IT governance within South African Enterprises. The study explores BEE policy as a means of redressing past inequalities and then presents BEE challenges that influence IT governance implementation. A broad outline of the research and a conceptual framework that will assist in monitoring the effectiveness of these four elements of the BEE scorecard towards IT governance implementation are presented. The study aims at giving an improved understanding and insights about the strength of the relationship between these two variables (BEE scorecard and IT governance), both of which have a bearing on the success of businesses operating in South Africa as a third variable. Kaplan and Norton„s balanced scorecard is used to measure business success (organization performance). The adopted method of data gathering was quantitative research with extensive use of questionnaires that targeted IT professionals and practitioners closely affiliated with BEE initiatives. The findings show a weak association between BEE and successful IT governance implementation. The results also reveal IT governance maturity has advanced to well-managed level 4.The human capital and diversity in the IT workforce lag behind in progress as a result of inadequate adherence to BEE metrics. There was a strong relationship between organization performance and BEE metrics, and a very weak link between IT governance and organization performance. It is envisaged that the resulting framework arising out of this work will form a foundation for other scholars and practitioners in the IT governance field to expand on gained knowledge, espousing the creation of a compressive IT framework that does not only focus on management tools and frameworks for IT governance efficiency but embraces the social dimensions of IT governance that may inhibit or enable IT governance effectiveness.