Leveraging COBIT 5 in Strategic Information Systems Planning: A Case Study from the Nigerian Pharmaceutical Industry

The role of Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) in healthcare necessitates a formal process of defining and updating the Information Systems Strategy (ISS). SISP enables the identification of a portfolio of computer-based applications for the execution of business plans and realization of business goals. This paper presents a processand practiced-based approach to SISP at a pharmaceutical organization in Nigeria. We describe a five-phased sequential COBIT 5(Control Objectives for IT and Related Technologies)-based process that plans for IS planning, analyzes the current environment, conceives strategy alternatives, selects strategy, and plans for strategy implementation. Various COBIT 5 tools and approaches were employed including COBIT 5 generic enterprise goals, generic IT-related goals, RACI charts, questions on governance and management of IT, implementation life cycle, and the Val IT business case template. The process was informed by findings from a structured approach to the review of the SISP process. Process concerns identified in six dimensions suggested application of a good practice framework. COBIT 5 has been applied in the healthcare and related industry in many areas but has not found application in SISP. Application of COBIT 5 in Nigerian Pharmaceutical Company (NPC) would be beneficial to pharmaceutical organizations engaging in similar effort in the future. Such application has implications for both researchers and practitioners. Index Terms COBIT 5, Healthcare, Information Systems, Information Systems Strategy (ISS), Pharmaceutical, Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP), Strategic Planning ——————————  ——————————