- A
Improved operational efficiency of IT systems
Why wrong: Operational efficiency is not the primary purpose.
- B
Enhanced prioritization of IT investments
Prioritization is a core benefit.
- C
Better alignment between IT and business strategy
Alignment is a key benefit.
- D
Reduction of management overhead
Why wrong: Steering committees add oversight, not reduction of overhead.
- E
Direct control over technical IT decisions
Why wrong: The committee guides strategy, not detailed technical decisions.
Quick Answer
The answer is better alignment between IT and business strategy, along with prioritization of IT initiatives. An IT steering committee ensures that technology investments directly support organizational goals by providing a governance layer where business leaders and IT executives jointly evaluate and rank projects based on strategic value rather than technical novelty. On the CISA exam, this concept tests your understanding of governance structures and their role in reducing project failure due to misalignment; a common trap is confusing the committee’s strategic oversight with operational management or technical design duties. Remember that the steering committee focuses on “what” and “why,” not “how”—a useful mnemonic is “Strategy and Priority, not Technicality.”
CISA Governance and Management of IT Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of governance and management of it. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO of the following are benefits of establishing an IT steering committee?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Enhanced prioritization of IT investments
Options B and D are correct because an IT steering committee provides strategic alignment and prioritization of IT initiatives. Option A is not a benefit; it may increase bureaucracy. Option C is not a direct benefit; operational efficiency is management's role. Option E is not a primary benefit; detailed technical decisions are outside committee scope.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Improved operational efficiency of IT systems
Why it's wrong here
Operational efficiency is not the primary purpose.
- ✓
Enhanced prioritization of IT investments
Why this is correct
Prioritization is a core benefit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Better alignment between IT and business strategy
Why this is correct
Alignment is a key benefit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Reduction of management overhead
Why it's wrong here
Steering committees add oversight, not reduction of overhead.
- ✗
Direct control over technical IT decisions
Why it's wrong here
The committee guides strategy, not detailed technical decisions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CISA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which CISA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Governance and Management of IT — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Governance and Management of IT — This question tests Governance and Management of IT — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enhanced prioritization of IT investments — Options B and D are correct because an IT steering committee provides strategic alignment and prioritization of IT initiatives. Option A is not a benefit; it may increase bureaucracy. Option C is not a direct benefit; operational efficiency is management's role. Option E is not a primary benefit; detailed technical decisions are outside committee scope.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which CISA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CISA exam.
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