steering committee

A steering committee is a group of high-level advisors who have been asked to govern an organization or organizational segment and provide it with direction.  

In information technology (IT), the job of a steering committee is to make sure every IT project supports business goals and objectives. The steering committee is often responsible for creating working groups and choosing the right experts to complete a project. Proposed changes to a project's scope projects must be approved by the steering committee to ensure the changes align with the project's aim. Many steering committees create project charters to hold project teams accountable.

Other possible functions and objectives of an IT steering committee include:

• Building a business case for an IT project.
• Encouraging a collaborative work environment.
• Monitoring progress towards goals.
• Controlling scope and resolving conflicts.