Course Objectives
IT Management Excellence
Course Methodology
This course uses a mixture of presentations, discussions, case studies, videos, role-plays and interactive exercises to transform participants’ knowledge into hands-on practice.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Develop an effective IT strategy
Increase project delivery rates and manage a portfolio of projects
Improve operational efficiency using different operational models
Lead effectively in a technical crisis
Create effective sourcing plans
Set clear IT contract objectives
Effectively negotiate technical agreements
Target Audience
The IT Management Excellence course is targeted at IT managers and team leaders who are looking to develop their career in management and leadership. Job titles often include IT Manager, IT Team Leader, Project Manager, Systems Architect, Head of (IT) Department and more.
Target Competencies
Business and IT strategy
Project, program and portfolio management
Advanced communication and presentation skills
IT operational excellence
Planning and managing a crisis event
Course Outline
Business and IT strategy
Business strategy
What is strategy?
Solving the problems of business strategy
Leading approaches to creating top level strategy
Case study ‘Setting corporate direction’
IT strategy
A proven process for IT strategy
Aligning IT strategy to business priorities
Balanced scorecard IT objectives
Enterprise architecture in IT strategy
Looking for a better way — optimizing IT strategy
Strategic plans — plot on a page
Communicating strategy
Project excellence
Advanced project, program and portfolio management
Validating project business cases using investment appraisals and sensitivity analysis
IT project management wisdom — lessons learned from successful and failed projects
Effective project governance and reporting
Project portfolio management guidelines
The first 90 days
Making an impact — the first 90 days
Strategic importance and tactical urgency
Case study ‘Priorities of the new IT director’
Business change leadership
The emotional cycle of business change
Guidelines for successful change projects
IT's unique role in business change management
Communicating technology
Communication skills
The art of communicating technology
Presenting IT to non-technical audiences
Creating a compelling technology message — IT’s elevator pitch
Handling difficult (IT) situations — forum theatre and role play
Group debate — What has IT ever done for us?
Business relationship management
Business relationship scenarios
The POSTMAN technique for identifying priority business requirements
The advanced use of questioning strategies – opening and closing dialogue
Methods of influencing outcomes
Operational and crisis management
Continual Service Improvement (CSI) models
Overview of different frameworks, including ITIL, Six Sigma and Lean IT
Techniques of root cause analysis
CSI examples and guidelines
Crisis leadership
Preparing for major (technology) incidents
Managing major incidents
Leading in crisis — the art of communication
Role play ‘Handling difficult situations’ — media simulation
Commercial acumen
Vendors
Making good decisions
Avoiding supplier pitfalls
Choosing good technology partners
Creating a culture of partnership
Harnessing vendor innovation
Essentials of IT contracts
Contract guidelines for successful IT
Getting what you want from your legal team
Designing contract flexibility
Managing IT contract portfolios
IT negotiation strategy
Creating a negotiation strategy
Rational supporting arguments
Agreeing final positions and BATNA
Negotiating as a team
Delivering better negotiated outcomes
Negotiation role plays and case studies