Implementation of suitable information technology governance frameworks for Moroccan higher education institutions

Abstract

This article aims to present formal governance practices of information technology adapted to the general context of Moroccan universities. The study consists of two main phases: the conceptualization phase and the operationalization phase. During the conceptualization phase, the authors reviewed relevant literature on best practices and their associated frameworks in higher education institutions (HEIs). The results revealed that universities had varying levels of maturity in terms of good practices and often used multiple information system frameworks, which can cause organizational and technical problems. In order to find a solution to this situation, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with chief information officers (CIOs) and university officials from four Moroccan universities during the operationalization phase. These interviews enabled them to propose an effective baseline of best practices and an algorithmic approach to assist managers in choosing between two combinations of frameworks that cover all the mechanisms of the baseline. This solution would enable optimal, agile, and easy-to-implement information technology governance in Moroccan universities while avoiding the multiplicity of frameworks.