- A
Progress iteratively
Why wrong: Progress iteratively is an ITIL 4 guiding principle.
- B
Optimize and automate
Why wrong: Optimize and automate is an ITIL 4 guiding principle.
- C
Focus on value
Why wrong: Focus on value is a guiding principle of ITIL 4, not ISO/IEC 38500.
- D
Responsibility
Responsibility is one of the six principles in ISO/IEC 38500.
Question 602 of 984
easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: Is a key principle of corporate governance of IT…
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of cisa exam topics. 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 of the following is a key principle of corporate governance of IT according to ISO/IEC 38500?
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
✓
Responsibility
ISO/IEC 38500 defines six key principles for the corporate governance of IT: Responsibility, Strategy, Acquisition, Performance, Conformance, and Human Behaviour. The 'Responsibility' principle mandates that individuals and groups within the organization understand and accept their responsibilities for the supply of, and demand for, IT. This is the foundational governance principle because it establishes clear accountability, which is necessary for all other governance activities to function effectively.
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.
- ✗
Progress iteratively
Why it's wrong here
Progress iteratively is an ITIL 4 guiding principle.
- ✗
Optimize and automate
Why it's wrong here
Optimize and automate is an ITIL 4 guiding principle.
- ✗
Focus on value
Why it's wrong here
Focus on value is a guiding principle of ITIL 4, not ISO/IEC 38500.
- ✓
Responsibility
Why this is correct
Responsibility is one of the six principles in ISO/IEC 38500.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the principles of specific IT management frameworks (like Agile, ITIL, or COBIT) with the high-level corporate governance principles defined in ISO/IEC 38500, leading them to select a familiar-sounding but incorrect option.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ISO/IEC 38500:2015 is a high-level advisory standard that provides a framework for governing bodies (e.g., boards of directors) to evaluate, direct, and monitor the use of IT. The 'Responsibility' principle requires that the governing body define, assign, and enforce responsibilities for IT-related decisions, ensuring that every IT activity has a named owner who is accountable for its outcomes. In practice, this means creating a clear RACI matrix that links IT strategy to business objectives, preventing the common governance failure where IT decisions are made in isolation without clear ownership.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Responsibility — ISO/IEC 38500 defines six key principles for the corporate governance of IT: Responsibility, Strategy, Acquisition, Performance, Conformance, and Human Behaviour. The 'Responsibility' principle mandates that individuals and groups within the organization understand and accept their responsibilities for the supply of, and demand for, IT. This is the foundational governance principle because it establishes clear accountability, which is necessary for all other governance activities to function effectively.
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: Jul 4, 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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