Governance

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Closely linked to ownership is the concept of governance.

What is governance? The IT Governance Institute defines governance as “the leadership and organizational structures and processes that ensure that the organization's IT sustains and extends the organization's strategies and objectives” (see also the Wikipedia entry for a discussion of technology governance).

Essentially, governance defines who gets to decide what. Because of the range of stakeholders involved in the Parent Portal – trustees, parent groups, principals, individual parents, teachers – there is risk of conflict if a governance framework is not in place before you implement your Portal.

Here are examples of some areas that will need clarity. Your discussions may uncover others.

1. Can anyone have a blog?
2. Who can post meeting minutes?
3. Who decides when new features are added? Which features?
4. Will content be moderated? By whom?

A great way to consider the governance questions you will face is to review the scenarios you described in the Features and Functions section. If you look at each scenario with the governance concept in mind you will generate the questions that need answers.