Information Technology
Design Authority Group
Terms of Reference
Overview
The Design Authority Group (DAG), acting on behalf of, and with the mandate of the
University’s Information Systems Management Group (ISMG), acts at the project and
programme delivery level to ensure that solution design proposals have received the
appropriate level of technical input and subject matter expertise. The DAG applies the
University’s design and architecture principles to assure solution designs.
Role and Purpose
The DAG provides governance and critical review of project and programme solution
design proposals, while making low-level decisions on those proposals. Critically, the
DAG acts as a design governance check point for the ISMG, escalating design challenges
to the ISMG and reporting on design decisions that have been taken on behalf of the
ISMG. Typically the DAG :
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Reviews requirements to make sure they are clear and have the appropriate level
of detail and clarity.
Ensures that the requirements of the solution are being met by the proposed
solution design.
Engages with projects, programmes and workstreams to build and maintain the
design pipeline.
Engages with projects, programmes and workstreams to ensure that the
correct design governance is being applied (e.g. suitable authorship of design and
expert input).
Reviews the technical input and subject matter expertise input into the proposed
solution design, covering areas such as the definition of requirements, legal
compliance, security considerations, functional fit, technological capability, cost,
support modelling (such as skill and
resource requirements) and delivery capability.
Assesses the feasibility of the proposed solution, specifically the functional
capability and the organisational fit.
Provides a broader review and assessment of solution and delivery
interdependencies and integration / interface requirements.
Ensures technical risk is being managed.
Escalates / reports design submissions and approvals to the ISMG.
Escalates challenges to architecture principles and design guidelines to
the Enterprise Architecture Advisory Board (EAAB).
Reviews and approves design changes.
Version 1.0
25 November 2016