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IT Leaders: Projects, Programmes & Change

Everyone relies on IT to deliver new projects that will change the business, be it improving sales force effectiveness, solving customer retention problems or reducing cost overheads.

Most organizations have a small number of highly significant programmes and a larger number of relatively small projects. This course looks at different techniques that are needed to manage both of these.

Programme and Change Management

Programmes are usually large and complex projects that will change or even transform a business. Strong analytical programme management methods are needed of course, but the most important aspect is the human side and helping employees come to terms with the business change.

IT Leaders uses innovative techniques for visualizing the changes that an organization needs to go through in a highly energetic and entertaining presentation. Delegates are asked to ‘step into the future’ and behave in a different paradigm. This approach enables companies to really come together to embrace change and identify the critical problems that might jeopardize success.

Course topics

  • Programme management techniques
  • Creating strategic high level plans
  • Resourcing and governance of large programmes
  • Significant change - business process (re-)engineering techniques
  • How to handle change – obtaining commitment
  • How to visualize the future and identify pitfalls

Project Portfolio Management

As well as large programmes, many organizations have a large number of smaller projects to manage. This module looks at some standard project management methods starting with project definition and through to project sign-off and evaluation. Before projects can be delivered, IT has a joint role with the business to prioritise those initiatives that will really make a difference. The question is how to do it. The first module looks at identifying the right projects and ensuring that the business owns the outcomes. We look at robust methods to accurately measure the true benefits.

We also look at the process of governance to adjust timing, funding and scope to meet the business priorities and finish with a discussion on why good projects sometimes fail.

Managing one project may be straight-forward, but IT professionals frequently have to manage a ‘portfolio’ of projects. Using industry-leading tools by way of demonstration, we present the techniques for successfully managing multiple projects.

Course topics

  • Project and program planning
  • Project management methods
  • Why good projects fail and how to avoid the pitfalls
  • Project portfolio management