PART 1 – CISA Domain3 – Information Systems Acquisition and Development, and Implementation
Domain 3: Understanding the domain in general
What is benefits realization?
What is portfolio management?
What is Business case approval and development?
What are the best business realization techniques?

Understanding the domain in general
Weightage – This domain accounts for 18 percent of the CISA exam (approximately 27, questions).
This Knowledge Statement covers 14 topics related to the auditing of information systems
Knowledge of benefits realization techniques (e.g. feasibility studies, business case, total cost of ownership [TCO], Return on Investment [ROI]).
Knowledge of IT acquisition and vendor management practices (e.g. evaluation and selection process; contract management, vendor risk management and relationship management); including third-party outsourcing relationships with IT suppliers and service providers.
Knowledge of project governance mechanisms (e.g. steering committee, project oversight boards).
Project Management Office
Knowledge of project management controls frameworks, practices, and tools
Project management knowledge and risk management practices
Knowledge of management practices and requirements analysis (e.g. traceability, gap analysis or vulnerability management, security requirements),
Knowledge of enterprise architecture in relation to data, applications and technology (e.g. web-based apps, web services, ntier applications, cloud services or virtualization).
Knowledge of system development methodologies, tools, and their strengths and weaknesses (e.g. agile development practices, prototyping and rapid application development [RAD], object oriented design techniques, secure programming practices, system version control).
Understanding of control objectives and techniques to ensure that transactions and data are complete, accurate, valid, and authorized
Knowledge of testing methods and practices related the information system development cycle (SDLC).
Knowledge of configuration management and release management is essential for the development of information systems
Knowledge of system migration, infrastructure deployment practices, and data conversion techniques, tools and procedures
Understanding project success criteria and project risks
Knowledge of post-implementation review practices and objectives (e.g. project closure, control implementation benefits realization, performance measurement)

Exam concepts:
1. Realize the benefits
Realizing benefits is one of the objectives.
It is to ensure that IT and business meet their value management responsibilities
IT-enabled business investment deliver tangible business value and the promised benefits
Delivered on time and within budget, the required capabilities (solutions or services) are available
2. Portfolio/Program Management:
The following are the objectives of project portfolio management:
Optimization of the results of the portfolio (not individual projects)
Prioritizing and scheduling projects
Resource coordination (internal as well as external)
Knowledge transfer throughout the projects
3. Business case development and approval
A business case is the information needed for an organization to decide if a project should be pursued
A business case is either the first step of a project, or a precursor to the actual start of the project.
The business case should be an integral part of any decision making process throughout the entire life cycle of any project.
A feasibility study, which is usually part of project planning/initiation, would provide the initial business case.
The following six elements will be included in a feasibility study:Project Scope – This defines the business problem or opportunity to be addressed
Current Analysis – Describes and establishes a understanding of a system or a software product.