Synergising digital technologies with information technology governance: A way to boost South African state-owned enterprises’ performance
Background: State-owned entities (SOEs) are under increasing pressure to improve their performance and adopt new technologies. The main elements of efficient information technology (IT), governance and overall organisational performance will be elucidated and examined in this study. The methodology is intended to evaluate the strategies, plans and policies needed to improve South Africa’s global competitiveness. It will assess how well these instruments support national development goals, identify any gaps or inefficiencies and provide insights for improving them to promote innovation, sustainable growth and economic resilience. Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate current IT governance guidelines and practices by assessing existing IT practices in South African SOE. Methods: This study used a systematic literature review approach to ensure a thorough and transparent evaluation of the body of available literature. Google Scholar and Sabinet were used to find and obtain a wide variety of pertinent articles. The review approach specifically used predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria to preserve methodological consistency and reduce selection bias. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework, which organised the screening, eligibility evaluation and ultimate selection of papers for analysis, was followed in the development of these criteria. Results: The results indicate that achieving synergy in digital technologies requires both the clear alignment of IT goals with the organisation’s strategic goals and the efficient use of IT governance. Moreover, in a quickly changing technical context, aligning digital projects with governance principles not only improves accountability and transparency but also encourages creativity and flexibility. Conclusion: Integrating digital technology with IT governance offers a game-changing opportunity to improve the performance of SOEs. This improves decision-making procedures, operational effectiveness and strategic alignment with national goals by incorporating cutting-edge digital tools into governance frameworks. Contribution: This study will make a significant contribution to understanding the complexities of IT governance frameworks implementation in South African SOEs.