Difference of COBIT 5 and COBIT 2019
INTRODUCTION
COBIT is an Enterprise governance of I&T. It has evolved over time to provide a clear distinction between governance and management. The COBIT components aim to build and sustain a governance system. The design factors should be taken into consideration by the Enterprise in order to build a best fit governance system.
COBIT was first introduced in 1996 and COBIT 5 was released on 2012 while the latest version of COBIT, the COBIT 2019 was published in 2018.
1: Change in Governance Principles
Governance System Principles
COBIT 5 is formed of 5 main principle systems while COBIT 2019 launched an additional principle system to the latest release, so the COBIT 2019 contains 6 Principles to the governance framework.
COBIT 5 Principles | COBIT 2019 Principles |
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Source: ISACA®, COBIT® 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, figure 3.5, USA, 2018, and COBIT® 5 figure 2, USA, 2012.
Governance Framework Principles
Apart from that, the 3 three Governance Framework Principles are introduced in COBIT 2019:

Source: ISACA, COBIT® 2019 Implementation Guide, figure 2.2, USA, 2018.
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Based of Conceptual Model
Identifies key components and relationship between the components to maximise consistency and allow automation.
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Open and Flexible
Openness and flexibility allow the addition of new content and the ability to address new issues in a flexible way which also contributes to integrity and consistency.
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Align to Major Standards
The model should be aligned to major standards, frameworks and regulations.
2: Change in Processes
More changes are made towards the processes of the framework to address the governance and management objectives.
COBIT 5 Processes | COBIT 2019 Processes |
37 Processes | 40 processes |
Terminology used: “Manage” | Terminology used: “Managed” |
Terminology in APO10: Supplier | Terminology in APO10: Vendor |
Align, Plan and Organize (APO)
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Build, Acquire and Implement (BAI)
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Evaluate and Assess (MEA)
| Evaluate and Assess (MEA)
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Overview of Governance and Management Objectives may refer to as follows:

Source: ISACA, COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology, USA, 2018, figure 4.2.

Source: ISACA COBIT 5 Figure 16.
3: Change in Performance Management and Design Factors
COBIT 5 | COBIT 2019 |
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Between 0-5 scale based on ISO/IEC 33000 | CMMI Performance Management Scheme |
Enablers available and Design Factors not available | Design Factors introduced and removed Enablers |
In COBIT 2019, 11 Design Factors introduced are about the factors that influence the design of the enterprise governance system.

Source: ISACA, COBIT® 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution, figure 2.4, USA, 2018.
In order to facilitate application, a governance system design workflow was adopted. The workflow details can refer to ISACA’s COBIT® 2019 Design Guide and Toolkit: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution:

Source: ISACA, COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution, USA, 2018, figure 4.1.
SUMMARY
COBIT 5 Processes | COBIT 2019 Processes |
5 Governance Principles | 6 Governance Principles |
37 Processes | 40 Processes |
“Manage” Terminology used for management processes | “Managed” Terminology use for management processes |
“Ensure” Terminology used for governance processes | “Ensured” Terminology use for governance processes |
Governance framework principles are not available | Governance framework principles added |
Measure performance using 0-5 scale based on ISO/IEC 33000 | CMMI performance management scheme introduced to measure performance |
Design Factors not included | Design Factors introduced |
ISACA’s tool kit can be used to design an enterprise governance system by inserting appropriate values in the corresponding fields. COBIT 2019 also includes new technology and business trends in enterprise I&T. The framework is also capable of integrating with other international standards, guidelines, regulations and best practices that is inimitable for your organisation to provide an effective EGIT framework.
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