If a business unit selects a new accounting application without consulting IT, what is the primary risk?

Selecting a new accounting application without consulting the IT department introduces significant risks, with inconsistency with the enterprise architecture being a primary concern. Enterprise architecture encompasses the overarching framework that guides IT decision-making, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic goals and facilitating interoperability among systems.

When business units independently choose applications, they may select technology that does not integrate well with existing systems or that employs different standards, tools, or protocols. This lack of alignment can lead to further complications, such as data silos, where information from the new application cannot be easily shared or utilized by other systems. It can also result in increased complexity and potential redundancies within the IT infrastructure, making it harder for IT to manage and support the overall technology landscape.

While other factors, such as security controls or support issues, are indeed important, the most critical issue stemming from a lack of consultation with IT is the risk of technological inconsistency. This situation could severely hinder the organization's ability to operate efficiently and adapt to changing business needs, making it imperative to ensure that any new applications are fully compatible with the established enterprise architecture.