Empowered SaaS Optimization Framework Tool 3: SaaS Governance Framework

We know all too well the growing challenge to effectively govern SaaS applications in our corporate environment. The Empowered SaaS Optimization framework has helped SaaS professionals develop a comprehensive universe of SaaS applications (ESO Tool 1) in use within the organization (hopefully with the benefit of a SaaS Management Platform) and you have assembled a multi-discipline team to develop appropriate policies and controls (ESO Tool 2) aligned to the SaaS segments you have defined.

With these key ingredients in place, SaaS professionals need to formalize the SaaS governance life cycle along with the roles and responsibilities of those individuals needed to support each phase or component of the life cycle. Applying focus and energy in this important foundational task will produce a streamlined, effective structure that engages the right individuals at the appropriate time to produce rapid and effective decisions.

In the SaaS community, I believe @CoryWheeler from @Zylo has tremendous insight to the importance of governing SaaS assets across the full life cycle. In a recent conversation, Cory shared with me his concise vision for an effective end to end SaaS governance life cycle that I fully agree with. In The Survival Guide to SaaS Optimization and the ESO framework I utilize my corporate experience to define a 7-phase SaaS life cycle (ESO Tool 3). In addition to many of the standard SaaS life cycle requirement, I advise SaaS governance and optimization leaders recognize the importance of ‘Roadmap Strategy’ and ‘Rules of Engagement’ to effective SaaS application and portfolio governance.

By including these two dimensions in the SaaS Governance Framework, sponsors and stakeholders will continually view ‘WHY’ is this SaaS application required, ‘WHAT’ is the value to be realized and ‘WHO’ is the best internal point of contact to ensure the capability is fully utilized and leverage is maintained.

Take the time to think about the natural phases of a SaaS Governance Life Cycle for your environment. The number of phases and activities are secondary to achieving true end-to-end coverage!