ABSTRACT
Digital governance involves the creation and monitoring of policies for investments in and use of digital technology across an organisation. The increasing power of computers combined with lower prices means that digital technology is now ubiquitous. As well as providing the communication and data processing traditionally managed by IT departments, digital technology impacts on the way people work, the efficiency of factories, the ability to sell to consumers, and the strategic management of organisations. Ultimately it is concerned with the long-term strategic issue of how organisations can thrive during a time of rapid technological change.
With this extended impact come extended risks and ever-growing opportunities. Digital technology is now far too important to be governed by one element of an organisation. It is a strategic issue that needs to be addressed at the very highest level, by the leaders of organisations. This is the manifesto that this book sets out: the boards of organisations need to take responsibility for setting the digital technology agenda, identifying the opportunities it brings 2and ensuring the associated risks are appropriately managed. It is only the board, with their viewpoint extending across the whole organisation, that can do this effectively.
