Why was the orientation of COBIT focused on the process rather than functions or applications?
The COBIT framework has been structured into 34 IT processes clustering interrelated life cycle activities or interrelated discrete tasks. The process model was preferred for several reasons. First, a process by its nature is results-oriented in the way that it focuses on the final outcome while optimizing the use of resources. The way these resources are physically structured, e.g., people/skills in departments, is less relevant in this perspective. Second, a process, especially its objectives, is more permanent in nature and does not risk change as often as an organizational entity. Third, the deployment of IT cannot be confined to a particular department and involves users and management as well as IT specialists. In this context, the IT process remains, nevertheless, the common denominator. As far as applications are concerned, they are treated within the COBIT framework as one of the four resource categories. Hence they are to be managed and controlled in such a way as to bring ab