Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This course provides an introduction to one of the most comprehensive frameworks for IT Governance available today - COBIT - Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies. It provides students with the knowledge to use the COBIT framework effectively in their workplace, and the opportunity to sit the COBIT Foundation Certification examination. What is IT Governance? IT Governance "consists of the leadership, organisational structures, and processes that ensure that the enterprise's IT sustains and extends the organisation's strategies and objectives". Weill and Ross, IT Governance, Harvard Business School Press, 2004 summarised the importance of IT Governance by saying "Effective IT Governance is the single most important predictor of the value an organisation generates from IT". What is COBIT? COBIT is a set of information that provides a way to implement IT Governance in any organisation. Published in its first version in 1996, it now consists of a series of control objectives, organised into 34 IT process areas arranged across four process domains, together with a wide range of associated documentation. The processes cover the complete spectrum of IT, and can be tailored to an organisation's specific needs. COBIT integrates well with more narrowly focused frameworks, methodologies and standards such as ITIL®, PRINCE2TM, ISO 2000, ISO 17799 and ISO 27001. It has been developed and enhanced to ensure compatibility with Sarbanes-Oxley and the COSO requirements for the IT control environment. This material includes COBIT 4.1, used by permission of the IT Governance Institute (ITGI). ©1996-2207 IT Governance Institute. COBIT is a registered trademark of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the IT Governance Institute. Who are ISACA and ITGI? The Information Systems Audit and Control Association - ISACA - was established in 1969 as the EDP Auditors' Association. It now has over 65,000 members worldwide organised into 170 Chapters in over 70 countries. Originally formed as a professional association for those involved in auditing IT systems, ISACA's membership now includes a wide variety of individuals involved in IT, including IS auditors, consultants, educators, IT security professionals, regulators, CIOs and internal auditors. The IT Governance Institute (ITGI) was formed in 1998 by ISACA and others in recognition of the increasing criticality of information technology to business success, and in particular of the need for effective IT governance. ITGI acts as a research body that carries out original research on IT governance and related topics, and is now the custodian and publisher of COBIT. COBIT helps organisations to maximise the return on their IT investment and achieve strong alignment between business and IT strategy, all at a level of risk acceptable to the business. Who will benefit from this course? Anyone wishing to attain COBIT Foundation Certificate, to develop an understanding of the scope and structure of COBIT or to implement enhanced processes to improve IT Governance in their or their clients' organisations will benefit from this course. What background do I need? No specific experience is required for this course, although familiarity with the application of IT in business will be helpful. The material is of relevance to all levels of personnel from those operating at a detailed level to CIOs. The course is not technical in nature, and the topics are discussed in a manner that makes them relevant to all types of organisations. Is there pre-course work? Five weeks prior to the course, Learning Tree sends you preparatory material designed to give you every advantage in passing the examinations, including: A copy of the COBIT 4.1 excerpt A study guide to help structure your reading of the COBIT 4.1 excerpt Prior to the course, we recommend 4 hours of study of these preparatory materials. By not completing the proper amount of pre-course study, you may find yourself at a significant disadvantage. This course has been designed with the assumption that each attendee has completed the pre-course study. One hour of evening study is required on the first night of the course. What will I learn on this course? This course covers the following topics: What is Governance? IT Governance drivers COBIT - what is it? Measuring IT Governance COBIT's scope and structure An in depth examination of COBIT COBIT's relationship with other methodologies Practical application of COBIT How does the COBIT foundation examination element of the course work? The COBIT foundation certificate allows you to demonstrate competence at foundation level and is available at the end of the second day of the course. The exam comprises of 40 multiple choice questions. The exam length is 60 minutes and 28 correct answers are required to pass the exam (70%). The exam is paper based. Is the exam fee included in the course price? Yes. How long does it take to receive results? ISACA will mail your result direct to you within 2 weeks of taking the exam. Mail time can vary depending on local postal services. Will I receive an exam certificate? You will receive an official COBIT foundation certificate. What is the relationship between Learning Tree and ITGI? Learning Tree is an official Licensee of COBIT content for training. Does this course provide information on other methodologies/frameworks? The course discusses how COBIT relates to other common frameworks, standards and methodologies, particularly to: ITIL PRINCE2 APM/PMI Body of Knowledge ISO/IEC 17799/27002 How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? COBIT's broad scope encompasses process areas that are covered in more depth in the following courses: 252, Strategic Planning for Organisational Success considers the development and implementation of strategic plans to help organisations achieve and sustain competitive advantage. COBIT includes a number of processes concerned with maximising performance in this area. 187, ITIL® v2: Achieving Foundation Certification  188, ITIL® v2: Change, Configuration and Release Management Practitioner Certification  189, ITIL® v2: Service Desk, Incident and Problem Management Practitioner Certification provide detailed examination of IT processes in the areas of Service Desk; Incident and Problem Management; and Change, Configuration and Release Management. All of these process areas encompassed within the COBIT framework. Why should I take this course from Learning Tree? For over thirty years, Learning Tree has been dedicated to providing the finest management and technology training available. With this course, we continue our commitment to provide the highest quality training. Learning Tree delivers COBIT training using decades of classroom training, unique MagnaLearnTM course delivery technology, and rigorous course design techniques. This material includes COBIT 4.1, used by permission of the IT Governance Institute (ITGI). ©1996-2007 IT Governance Institute. All rights reserved. COBIT is a registered trademark of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the IT Governance Institute

CobiT® This material includes COBIT® 4.1, used by permission of the IT Governance Institute (ITGI). ©1996-2007 IT Governance Institute. All rights reserved. COBIT® is a registered trademark of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the IT Governance Institute.