Comparison of CobiT 4.1 and CobiT 5

This review of CobiT 4.1and CobiT 5 does not include all possible elements of these two complex frameworks. Still, this review is exhaustive enough to obtain a good impression of CobiT.

To sum up, the following improvements has been made into the CobiT 5 framework: first, the framework and processes have been reformulated in order to convert CobiT into a more comprehensive framework. Moreover, stakeholder needs at different levels are better incorporated. Besides, management best practices are added and will be further developed (CobiT 5 2012). Also, different standards have been incorporated into CobiT 5 making it an integrative governance framework.

It can now be concluded that CobiT 5 could be seen as an IT Management and IT governance framework and not only as an IT governance Framework. The reason for that is that CobiT 5 does cover topics on IT management as well as on IT governance. Moreover, CobiT 5 has been expanded with VAL IT and Risk IT. VAL IT represents the first major step in improving the state of costs/benefits management in ISACA because it recognizes a full lifecycle approach. In the context of IT governance, CobiT 5 introduce new guidelines and processes for a full lifecycle evaluation. These guidelines are, for example, "Maintain the Governance Framework", "Ensure Value Optimisation", "Ensure Risk Optimisation" and "Ensure Stakeholder Transparency"(EDM1-4 in CobiT 5 2012; ISO 38500). The focus of  EDM1-4 is, above all, oriented toward corporate governance at the board of director level.