COBIT® 2019 defines enterprise strategy archetypes as a formal design factor used to tailor governance systems. One of these archetypes is cost leadership, which emphasizes operational efficiency, predictable outcomes, cost control, and disciplined investment decisions.
The Design Guide explains that for cost leadership strategies, governance systems must strongly support portfolio management and investment decision-making to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and that spending aligns with enterprise priorities. An investment office or equivalent function enables structured evaluation, prioritization, and control of I&T-enabled investments, which is critical for maintaining low operational costs.
While skills, organizational structures, and enterprise architecture are relevant across all strategies, they are not distinguishing components for cost leadership. What differentiates cost leadership is the governance focus on financial discipline, value tracking, and investment optimization.
Therefore, support for the portfolio management role through an investment office is the most important and distinguishing component aligned with a cost leadership strategy in COBIT 2019.
