Information and operational technologies nexus: An integrated governance model

Technologies utilised in management of an asset lifecycle consist of a variety of operational and information technologies. Although, operational technologies are, by nature, information technologies; yet they are not classed within information technology infrastructure. In fact most of the operational, financial, and administrative systems require information from operational technologies, like for example control systems, to accomplish a variety of tasks relating to asset lifecycle management. Nevertheless, this isolation is the major contributor of integration and interoperability issues in the technological infrastructure utilised in enabling and supporting asset lifecycle processes and management regime. Asset managing organisations evolve along the continuum of standalone technologies, processes enabled by these technologies, as well as the skills associated with their operation. As a consequence, information resources could best be described as isolated pools of useful data that could potentially provide strategic support to asset lifecycle management. This paper proposes that operational technologies should be treated as information technologies, and proposes a model for governance of these technologies utilized for enabling and supporting asset lifecycle. The proposed model facilitates generative learning and argues for continuous alignment of asset management strategy with technology, and acts as a strategic enabler as well as a translator.