Implementation of it governance in small municipal governments: a proposal based on the reality of concórdia do pará

Abstract

This study examines the challenge of Information Technology (IT) governance in small municipal governments in Brazil, where limited budgets and the scarcity of technical personnel often lead to improvised decision‑making and, consequently, inefficient public services. To analyze this scenario, a structured questionnaire was administered to 33 public servants from administrative, IT, and managerial areas. The results reveal a critical situation: 80% of administrative staff work without any formal training to operate municipal systems, and most hardware acquisitions are carried out without adequate planning. Qualitative responses reinforce these findings, indicating that the IT sector operates in isolation and functions almost exclusively through reactive maintenance. These circumstances reflect direct failures in basic COBIT 2019 processes, specifically in objectives APO08 and BAI08. In response, the article proposes a minimal IT governance structure tailored to the context of small Brazilian municipalities. Without requiring immediate infrastructure investments, the model prioritizes internal process organization and staff training, offering a practical tool for modernizing public management and increasing transparency in the use of municipal resources.