Why you should consider an introductory course for ISO/IEC 20000

The rapidly evolving IT environment requires businesses to remain on top of the necessary skills and standards, in order to ensure compliancy and effective management.

The role of ISO/IEC 20000

Understanding the international standard for IT service management, ISO/IEC 20000, may seem a difficult task, but it's actually straightforward when broken down. ISO/IEC 20000 describes an intergrated set of processes designed for management, which ensure effective service delivery to businesses and customers.

ISO/IEC 20000 can be used to fill a number of requirements, including:

The history of ISO/IEC 20000

ISO/IEC 20000 was first released in 2005, following development of earlier standards such as BS 15000 from 2000 through to 2002. The series was designed to apply to both small and large service providers, and meet the requirements set forth for service management.

Essentially, the standard can ensure the best possible service is delivered to customers within predetermined resource levels.

An introductory course to ISO/IEC 20000 is the best way to approach the standard, and ISO/IEC Fundamentals is ideal. By completing the three day course, participants will ensure they have a solid knowledge of the fundamentals – invaluable over the next few years.

Once the course has been taken, organisations that have aligned with the standard will be able gain a greater alignment between IT services and business strategy, along with the creation of a framework for service improvement projects.

ISO/IEC 20000 needs to be considered in the near future, as it's able to significantly benefit business operations.

CIOs need to prioritise digital business technologies

Digital business technologies are changing how organisations operate within the marketplace and will soon require CIOs to ensure the organisation has a clear position, new research has revealed.

This came as part of a study from analytical organisation Gartner, which identified emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), wearable technologies and even 3D printing as important considerations for modern businesses.

Gartner Fellow Hung LeHong explained that CIOs could hesitate to integrate digital business technologies into the wider IT responsibility infrastructure, due to their emergent and as-yet untested nature.

"Many companies are looking to digital business technologies as their next source of competitive advantage. There is too much at stake – in both business value and technology investment – for CIOs to stay in the margins," Mr LeHong said.

"[We believe CIOs] should participate in innovating and in testing the business cases for these technologies in the early stages."

Digital businesses will need to focus on several areas, but there are two which require immediate consideration.

Cybersecurity

Digital business technologies can already be found in use throughout many business operations, but security is still lacking. The success of digital business technologies hinges on successful cybersecurity implementation, and this will need to become a priority.

The Internet of Things

The IoT presents a number of business opportunities, including greater efficiency and reduced operating costs. CIOs will need to approach the trend cautiously, however, as any implementation is likely to impact existing technology bodies already in place.

Ensuring readiness for the coming digital transformation can seem difficult, but it's actually easy to handle with IT project management training. This type of program is both cost-effective and simple to undertake. Following the comprehensive training, a business is in the best position moving forward.

To guarentee success when handling digital IT transformation, an ALC Training PRINCE2 Practitioner Certificate Program can ensure mastery of project management.

What kind of team leader are you?

There are many factors which contribute to the success or failure of any business project. 

Everything from the resources at the project's disposal, to the type of project management methodology being followed, and even external factors such as economic or regulatory environments can influence whether or not a particular project is a success.

Another key factor that will play a role in the eventual outcome of any new initiative is leadership – namely, the personality and management style of the person who has been asked to head up the project. 

If you are a current or aspiring project management professional looking to better understand and improve your approach to project leadership, you should take the time to develop a better understanding of your leadership personality.

While no two project managers are alike, there are a number of broad leadership styles that can be used to classify an individual's project management methodology.

By examining these various leadership styles, and determining which one best suits your approach, you can begin to better understand your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to project management.

Here are four common leadership personalities that might influence the management approach you take on your next project:

Authoritarian

The authoritarian (or autocratic) leader is one who rules with an iron fist, making executive decisions without consultation with team members. 

Sometimes this approach can be beneficial, such as when a clear decision needs to be made quickly and without unnecessary delay. Other times, the authoritarian leader may make an inappropriate decision as they have failed to seek input from those with relevant opinions to add. 

Authoritarian leadership can also have a negative effect on team morale. Studies have shown that autonomy is one of the key drivers behind employee engagement, and taking this initiative away from employees could potentially contribute to a less-committed workforce. 

Laissez-faire

On the other end of the scale is the laissez-faire leader – the manager who awards all decision-making responsibility to the employee. 

Laissez-faire leadership is not a new concept. In fact, the term was first coined in 1939 by noted psychologist Kurt Lewin. However, this approach has grown in popularity in recent years as more organisations embrace flatter, less structured leadership models. 

There are many potential risks and pitfalls to a laissez-faire leadership approach. While this methodology may prove beneficial in projects with experienced, engaged employees, it can fall short and lead to problems amongst groups that require a more top-down management style. 

Transactional

A transactional leadership approach focuses on setting clear strategic goals, and rewarding or punishing team members based on whether they achieve these goals. 

Transactional leadership requires clear and succinct delegation. Employees need to understand what aspects of the project are their responsibility, and how they will be judged on the success or failure of this initiative. 

It could be argued that transactional leadership emphasises a "steady as she goes" mindset. Transactional managers are focussed on maintaining the status quo and ensuring employees continue to hit ongoing targets, rather than making significant strategic changes.

Transformational

Conversely, transformational leaders are very much focussed on achieving long-term improvements, and making beneficial strategic adjustments.

Transformational leaders focus on the big picture. They emphasise employee satisfaction and forward-thinking improvement. Rather than focussing on day-to-day priorities and short-term wins, they look to improve the motivation and engagement of employees in order to benefit the project in the long run. 

Obviously transformational leaders need to be very switched-on to the strategic goals of the organisation. They also need to be careful to ensure their commitment to future improvements does not end up compromising the ongoing success of the project. 

For more information on successful leadership and management methodologies, consider enrolling in an ALC Training PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner Level Certification. 

5 benefits of the Scrum Master Certified course

There are many approaches to managing professional projects, and these can be further enhanced through undertaking IT project management training. The practical, hands-on application of real-life situations in a team atmosphere that the Scrum Master Certified course offers could be ideal for those looking to improve their professional knowledge and gain insight into the reality of managing projects.

1. The diverse attendees at these courses serve to enrich the learning experience, as each brings a wealth of experiences and insights from their respective roles to the process. Course participants are from both client and non-client facing roles, such as project managers, team leaders and IT managers. 

2. The theoretical concepts of the course are taught with a primary focus on group exercises, role play and actual case studies. Using these real stimuli as a basis, the teaching of the core principles to be a Scrum Master are reinforced, aiding memory retention and understanding. 

3. Certificated paperwork is also understood as a necessity, so although the focus of the course is on real experience of situations and projects in which Scrum can be implemented, an online exam complements the training at the end of the course.

4. The clear focus and direction of the two days is another asset to this type of training, as the specific angle of equipping course attendees with the expertise and skills to clear and implement project timelines and briefs right through until the proposed end of project. An additional bonus of the Scrum course is its ability to be useful and applicable to a range of project and organisation types, sizes and needs. 

5. The rugby analogy of which Scrum takes its namesake is evident throughout the teachings, as well as the overall ethos of working as a team and separating aspects of the work into achievable sections that drive strategic goals. 

The benefits of an Agile project management methodology

Good leaders and project managers need to be many things to many people – courageous enough to make strong decisions, empathetic enough to meet the needs of team members, and intelligent enough to achieve critical project outcomes.

Perhaps most importantly, project managers need to be flexible and agile, able to adapt their methodology and processes in order to respond to any issues as they arise.

This is a big part of the reason why the Agile project management methodology is becoming such a popular option for organisations looking to achieve better outcomes with critical projects and initiatives.

The basic theory behind Agile project management is simple. It involves taking an iterative approach, which means delivering a project in incremental components, encouraging continuous feedback along the way to refine and improve the process.

Agile is most often seen during the process of software development, in which cross-functioning teams collaborate through continuous planning and testing to develop the best possible solution.

However, the applications of the agile philosophy don’t end there. Australia’s Commonwealth Bank is one agency that is taking agile beyond the realm of software development and using it to generate a culture that learns from failure, rather than fears it.

In an interview with ITNews published June 19, Commonwealth Bank executive general manager of digital channels Lisa Frazier explained the philosophy behind agile.

“Agile is about empowering small ideas and debating big ideas. It’s about having no theory or philosophy except that a good idea can come from anywhere,” said Ms Frazier.

“Failure is going to happen. I have to go to the executive committee and talk about my failures. I survived, because they said they know we have to push the envelope. If we don’t learn to fail sensibly, we won’t innovate.”

If you think an agile approach to project management might benefit your organisation, consider investing in specialised training courses that can provide certification in this area.

The benefits of an Agile project management methodology

Good leaders and project managers need to be many things to many people – courageous enough to make strong decisions, empathetic enough to meet the needs of team members, and intelligent enough to achieve critical project outcomes.

Perhaps most importantly, project managers need to be flexible and agile, able to adapt their methodology and processes in order to respond to any issues as they arise.

This is a big part of the reason why the Agile project management methodology is becoming such a popular option for organisations looking to achieve better outcomes with critical projects and initiatives. 

The basic theory behind Agile project management is simple. It involves taking an iterative approach, which means delivering a project in incremental components, encouraging continuous feedback along the way to refine and improve the process.

Agile is most often seen during the process of software development, in which cross-functioning teams collaborate through continuous planning and testing to develop the best possible solution. 

However, the applications of the agile philosophy don't end there. Australia's Commonwealth Bank is one agency that is taking agile beyond the realm of software development and using it to generate a culture that learns from failure, rather than fears it. 

In an interview with ITNews published June 19, Commonwealth Bank executive general manager of digital channels Lisa Frazier explained the philosophy behind agile. 

"Agile is about empowering small ideas and debating big ideas. It's about having no theory or philosophy except that a good idea can come from anywhere," said Ms Frazier. 

"Failure is going to happen. I have to go to the executive committee and talk about my failures. I survived, because they said they know we have to push the envelope. If we don't learn to fail sensibly, we won't innovate."

If you think an agile approach to project management might benefit your organisation, consider investing in specialised training courses that can provide certification in this area. 

3 steps to a smooth PRINCE2 implementation

First introduced to the business world more than two decades ago, PRINCE (Projects in Controlled Environments) has long been the undisputed standard in project management methodologies.

With PRINCE2 representing the latest iteration in this very successful formula, companies over the years have used it time and time again to establish best practices in project management. As a highly sophisticated and powerful tool, it makes sense to embed it into your organisation right from the get-go.

Taking the time to implement PRINCE2 correctly from the start will ensure your company begins on the front foot and can instantly reap the benefits. Here are three tips to keep in mind.

1. Remember – it's not set in stone

There is often a misjudged perception that PRINCE2 is highly inflexible and bureaucratic, offering a generic, one-size-fits-all solution regardless of user. 

This is simply not true – although PRINCE2 does prescribe processes and methodologies, remember that it is in fact a very flexible system that can adapt to your organisation's specific needs. Taking this open approach to implementation will help ensure you can leverage the most out of PRINCE2 and make it work for your organisation – not the other way round.

2. Assess your existing business processes

One of the benefits of PRINCE2's flexibility is that it can work with your organisation's existing processes, meaning you don't have to make any radical changes to accommodate it.

Take a look at the methodologies offered by PRINCE2 as well as your existing methods, and assess how you can seamlessly embed it to fit in with your way of doing things.

3. Get your staff trained up

Being a highly powerful and complex system, it's essential that your staff receives the right accredited training to make the most out of PRINCE2.

With a range of PRINCE2 training courses available today – whether provided in-house or at the facilitator's venue – your organisation can quickly equip its employees with the skills required to implement PRINCE2 and take its projects to the next level.

What is PRINCE2 and how can it help your organisation?

Are you a project management professional looking to expand your skillset and become a more effective leader?

Perhaps you are an aspiring project manager who wishes to gain a global qualification that will put you ahead of the pack when it comes to securing in-demand employment positions? 

Either way, you may want to consider investing in PRINCE2 certification.

What is PRINCE2? 

PRINCE2 is an acronym that stands for the second edition of the hugely popular project management methodology, PRojects IN Controlled Environments.

Some of the world's largest public and private sector organisations – including the UK and Australian governments – use PRINCE2 in order to ensure the successful management and completion of crucial business projects. 

One of the factors behind the success and popularity of PRINCE2 is its comprehensive and collaborative development process. Over the years, the PRINCE methodology has been updated and driven through practical utilisation and regular reviews with project management specialists.

Today, PRINCE2 is built largely around the rule of seven – seven key principles, seven themes and seven processes. Together, these 21 elements come together to construct a comprehensive and proven methodology to successful project management. 

Due to the thorough and detailed nature of PRINCE2, any project manager looking to become familiar with this methodology will want to consider in-person training courses. 

What options are available for people looking to learn PRINCE2?

A number of PRINCE2 training courses are available for those looking to develop experience and understanding in the theory of project management.

For interested parties with limited time to invest in this certification, two or three day foundation courses can provide a solid basis in PRINCE2. They are perfect for those looking to utilise and capitalise on this methodology, but who are not necessarily aiming to develop professional level knowledge.

More in-depth, five day practitioner programs are also available which offer project management professionals a comprehensive education and certification in the world leading PRINCE2 project management methodology.

Regardless of which course you choose, it's impossible to overstate the benefit of having access to a knowledgeable tutor with proven, hands-on experience in utilising PRINCE2.