The scope and stakeholders of the audit are the most important information to provide to the consultant before the audit begins, because they define the objectives, boundaries, and expectations of the audit. The scope and stakeholders of the audit are also part of the IT governance domain 1: Framework for the Governance of Enterprise IT1. References := 1: CGEIT Review Manual 2023, ISACA, page 23.

This is because IT is a key enabler and driver of business strategy, and it needs to understand and align with the strategic vision, goals, and priorities of the enterprise1. By ensuring IT has knowledgeable representation and is included in the strategic planning process, the enterprise can:
Leverage IT's expertise and insights to identify and evaluate the opportunities and challenges of the strategy change1 Ensure IT's readiness and capability to support and execute the strategy change1 Avoid any gaps or misalignments between IT and business expectations and requirements1 Foster a collaborative and supportive relationship between IT and business stakeholders1 B: Increase the IT budget and approve an IT staff level increase to ensure resource availability for the strategy change. This is not the first step to prepare for the change in the enterprise's board of directors' strategy, as it may be premature or unnecessary to do so without a clear understanding and agreement of the scope, impact, and implications of the strategy change. Increasing the IT budget and staff level may also create inefficiencies or wastages if they are not aligned with the actual needs and priorities of the strategy change2.
C: Initiate an IT service awareness campaign to business system owners and implement service level agreements (SLAs). This is not the first step to prepare for the change in the enterprise's board of directors' strategy, as it may not be relevant or effective to do so without a clear definition and communication of the strategy change. Initiating an IT service awareness campaign and implementing SLAs are more related to the delivery and management of IT services, rather than the planning and alignment of IT strategy3.
D: Outsource both IT operations and IT development and implement controls based on a standardized framework. This is not the first step to prepare for the change in the enterprise's board of directors' strategy, as it may introduce new risks and challenges for IT governance, such as loss of control, dependency, compatibility, security, compliance, and cost issues4. Outsourcing both IT operations and development may also reduce the involvement and ownership of IT in the strategic planning process, which could affect its alignment and responsiveness to the strategy change4. Outsourcing should be carefully considered and evaluated based on the specific needs and circumstances of the enterprise, and should be complemented by a robust governance and management framework4.