A study on the impact of non-operational mechanisms on the effectiveness of public information technology governance

Abstract This study proposes an analysis of non-operational mechanisms that can impact the effectiveness of information technology governance in the Brazilian public administration. A questionnaire was sent to information technology managers and experienced professionals in the area of information technology governance, who work in public organizations. Based on the collected data, we used the structural equations technique to verify the impact of the following mechanisms on the effectiveness of information technology governance: top management support; performance of the information technology steering committee; use of information technology strategic planning; performance of the information technology investment portfolio management. The study indicates that the first three mechanisms do not influence the perceived effectiveness of information technology governance in the Brazilian public sector. However, the performance of the information technology investment portfolio management has a direct and positive consequence on effectiveness; also, as a mediating variable, it significantly affects the performance of the information technology steering committee, increasing the effectiveness of Brazilian public information technology governance. Through the achieved results and the analysis of these effects, this study aims to contribute theoretically to the literature on information technology governance, as there are few studies that examine which mechanisms assist to establish this effectiveness in public organizations, and even less when it comes to the Brazilian public sector.