In today's technology driven world, there is no time for business leaders to lag behind on IT. But how can you stay afloat amongst the confusing terms, changing tides and constantly emerging innovations?  

There's no question that IT has become a huge part of an overall business strategy. According to a recent Reinvent Data Centers survey, 93 per cent of CEOs worldwide believe that technology is more important to them than it was five years ago.

However, the majority of the leaders surveyed seem to be missing the mark when applying innovations to their processes as 85 per cent of CEOs struggle to understand the strategic implications of IT.

To help you better understand the benefits of having a strong IT management portfolio in your business, we've broken down the four main components. Each part offers its own unique capabilities, although there are some overlaps.

Enterprise Architecture

In the simplest terms, this is all about defining your business capabilities. Enterprise architects look at the people, processes and materials in an organisation to find where value can be derived for the end customer. For example, we teach the SABSA method to help people build a strong security framework across the entire company.

In this step, the focus on on the overall strategy of the business and enterprise architects must logically assess each of the above factors in a firm to highlight where the potential changes can be made.

PRINCE2

This is where points that are highlighted for change see implementation through project planning. PRINCE2 is the most widely used and trusted management and government framework worldwide. When used effectively, it allows managers to deliver projects within an acceptable risk profile and in accordance to quality standards.

Formal PRINCE2 training is often required to fully grasp the full potential of this software, but the pay-off can be great for those who do choose to take the time and money to train their managers. PRINCE2 can be applied to projects of any size, with a focus on the decisions that managers need to make to see them through to completion.

PRINCE2 is one of the most reliable project governance systems in the world.

AgilePM

Another key project management software is Agile. While there is a lot of overlap with this software and PRINCE2, the two complement each other rather than compete. In fact, a recent certificate course has been added specifically for PRINCE2 users to expand their skills in an Agile-oriented way that combines both programs in one system.

AgilePM uses the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) to deliver projects in a volatile business environment. This system ensures that goals are consistently met on time and on budget, across external and internal shifts. Just like PRINCE2, taking courses in AgilePM is an important part of overall IT project management training and is a worthy investment for any company.

Business Analysis

Similar to an Enterprise Architect in scope, business analysts looks at the requirements of a business project. They focus on the current state of the business and what needs to be done to reach the future desired state. Rather than keeping the end customer in mind, business analysts in IT need to consider the entire value-chain and each individual process within the chain.

Business Analysts also play an important role in implementing business processes. These are often designed on a project-to-project basis and incorporate both IT and non-IT elements.

With all four of these aspects laid out, it is easier to see where your project management systems may be failing. If this is the case, training is always available to you or your managers to help reach better project outcomes.