- A
Implementing a continuous monitoring system for IT operational metrics
Why wrong: Incorrect. While important, this is operational, not strategic alignment.
- B
Conducting monthly IT steering committee meetings to review project status
Why wrong: Incorrect. Project status reviews are tactical, not strategic alignment.
- C
Adopting a governance framework that covers all IT-related activities and stakeholder needs
Correct. A holistic governance framework like COBIT 2019 ensures alignment.
- D
Defining IT investment portfolios based on business value contribution
Correct. COBIT 2019 recommends portfolio management to link IT to business value.
- E
Using agile development methodologies for all IT projects
Why wrong: Incorrect. Agile is a development approach, not a governance alignment practice.
Quick Answer
The answer is defining IT investment portfolios based on business value contribution. This is correct because COBIT 2019’s Governance System and Framework components require that all IT activities be explicitly linked to stakeholder needs and enterprise goals through a structured governance framework, ensuring that investments are prioritized by their measurable value to the business rather than by technical convenience. On the CISA exam, this concept tests your understanding of how COBIT 2019 alignment practices bridge IT strategy with business goals, often appearing in questions that contrast value-driven portfolio management with cost-cutting or technology-centric approaches. A common trap is confusing alignment with simple IT-business communication, when in fact COBIT demands formal governance structures, policies, and processes that embed business value into every investment decision. Remember the mnemonic “Value First, Governance Lasts” to recall that business value contribution must drive portfolio definitions, not the other way around.
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 recommended practices for aligning IT strategy with business goals, according to COBIT 2019?
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
Adopting a governance framework that covers all IT-related activities and stakeholder needs
Option C is correct because COBIT 2019 explicitly requires a governance framework that covers all IT-related activities and stakeholder needs to ensure alignment with business goals. This framework integrates enterprise governance principles, such as the Governance System and Governance Framework components, to bridge IT and business strategy through policies, structures, and processes.
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.
- ✗
Implementing a continuous monitoring system for IT operational metrics
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While important, this is operational, not strategic alignment.
- ✗
Conducting monthly IT steering committee meetings to review project status
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Project status reviews are tactical, not strategic alignment.
- ✓
Adopting a governance framework that covers all IT-related activities and stakeholder needs
Why this is correct
Correct. A holistic governance framework like COBIT 2019 ensures alignment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Defining IT investment portfolios based on business value contribution
Why this is correct
Correct. COBIT 2019 recommends portfolio management to link IT to business value.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Using agile development methodologies for all IT projects
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Agile is a development approach, not a governance alignment practice.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse operational or tactical activities (like monitoring metrics or project reviews) with strategic governance practices, which COBIT 2019 defines as framework-level alignment, not day-to-day management tasks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
COBIT 2019's Governance and Management Objectives (e.g., EDM01, APO01) define how to establish a governance framework that includes stakeholder needs, principles, and structures like the governance body. The framework must be tailored to the enterprise's context, covering all IT activities, and is assessed through capability levels (e.g., CMMI-based). In practice, this means defining a governance charter, roles (e.g., CIO, board), and processes that link IT investments to business value, as seen in the Balanced Scorecard approach.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Adopting a governance framework that covers all IT-related activities and stakeholder needs — Option C is correct because COBIT 2019 explicitly requires a governance framework that covers all IT-related activities and stakeholder needs to ensure alignment with business goals. This framework integrates enterprise governance principles, such as the Governance System and Governance Framework components, to bridge IT and business strategy through policies, structures, and processes.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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