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The goal of human resources is to hire and maintain a competent and motivated workforce. An organization should have an effective IT human resources management plan that meets the requirements for IT and the business lines it supports. IT management should integrate its management of human resources with technology planning to ensure optimum development and availability of IT skills.
Components of an effective IT human resources management process include compensation planning, performance reviews, participation in industry forums, knowledge transfer mechanisms (e.g., rotational assignments), training, and mentoring. The board should define and enforce incentive programs for IT management, similar to those available for other senior management of the organization, to reward managers who meet IT performance goals.
The company should have programs in place to ensure its staff has the expertise necessary to perform its job and achieve company goals and objectives. A company may need to look externally to find necessary expertise for specialized areas.
Management should develop training programs for all new technology standards and products before their deployment in the organization. Institutions may employ a certification program to ensure the staff maintains the necessary expertise to support the business.
The board and senior management should also consider appropriate succession and transition strategies for key managers and personnel. Some strategies include the use of employment contracts, professional development plans, and contingency plans for interim staffing of key management. Management should mitigate the risk by backing up key positions, cross-training additional personnel, and selecting customized insurance products targeting key employees. The ultimate objective is to provide for a smooth transition in the event of turnover in vital IT management or operations functions.
The IT department often provides an important support role for the institution's management information systems. A management information system (MIS) is a process that provides the information necessary to manage an organization effectively. Accurate and timely MIS reports are an essential component of prudent and reasonable business decisions. Many levels of management view and use MIS, which should support the institution's longer-term, strategic goals and objectives. IT management typically sets policies, procedures, and controls to govern database management and report creation to help ensure the effectiveness and usefulness of the organization's MIS.
Management should design its MIS to:
MIS supplies decision makers with facts, supports and enhances the overall decision-making process and enhances job performance throughout an institution. At the most senior levels, MIS provides the data and information to help the board and management make strategic decisions. At other levels, MIS allows management to monitor the institution's activities and distribute information to other employees, customers, and members of management.
Advances in technology have increased the volume of information available to management and directors for planning and decision-making. Technology increases the potential for inaccurate reporting and flawed decision making. Because report generation systems can rely on manual data entry or extract data from many different financial and transaction systems, management should establish appropriate control procedures to ensure information is correct and relevant. Since management information systems can originate from multiple equipment platforms and systems, the controls should ensure all information systems have sufficient and appropriate controls to maintain the integrity of the information and the processing environment.
Sound fundamental principles for MIS review include proper internal controls, operating procedures, safeguards, and audit coverage. These principles are explained throughout this booklet.
To function effectively, as a feedback tool for management and staff, MIS should be useable. The five elements of information technology processing activities that create useable MIS are timeliness, accuracy, consistency, completeness, and relevance. Compromise of any of these elements hinders the usefulness of MIS.