Pairing digitisation with PRINCE2

It can be all too easy for companies to run into roadblocks with new technology implementations, especially when they're on a similar scale to digitisation – the process of converting analogue information to the digital medium.

Like many new trends, digitisation requires effective management from the outset, in order to avoid running into issues further down the line.

With digitisation on the rise, it's now time for businesses to consider implementations and the most effective forms of management.

This article will take a look at the proliferation of digitisation in the Asia Pacific and how PRINCE2 can be effectively utilised to manage the change.  

Digitisation on the rise

Digitisation is currently experiencing growth in the Asia/Pacific, according to a new report from the International Data Corporation (IDC). This is even as consumables shipments (printer ink) remain stable.  

Greater numbers of vendors are now recognising the advantages of digitisation and are starting to offer managed print services in response.

Pankaj Chawla, an IDC research manager, explained the current reasons for digitisation growth and the likely effects of such a shift.

"Digitisation is an emerging trend in Asia/Pacific as corporations as well as government sectors in Asia/Pacific countries are trying to reduce their printing needs," he said.

"Educational institutes are evaluating the adoption of tablets; hospitals are digitising patients' records; and governments are going to digitise government records."

He went on to explain that digitisation policies will in turn lead to lower usage of paper records and printing, though it could be some time before digital alternatives are in full effect.

Governments pushing ahead

In Australia, institutes such as the State Library of Victoria are recognising the benefits of digitisation and converting paper records and historical artefacts into digital alternatives.

According to the library, hundreds of thousands of objects have now been converted, including photographs, maps and rare artworks.  

Once these objects are uploaded into a computer system, it's easy for anyone to view them even if they're not physically in the library. There is also the element of preservation, as priceless objects are kept secure and records are retained for future generations.

Businesses can see similar benefits with digitisation, especially when older records and files are place into a cloud server. Staff are able to access files without having to trawl through physical filing cabinets and there's no risk of damage to originals.

So with digitisation offering such a significant number of advantages for businesses, what's the best way to implement such a strategy?

Managing the change with PRINCE2

Digitisation is obviously a large project for businesses, especially when thousands of records and files need to be converted.

It's easy to see how without proper management such a process could derail, failing to accomplish any pre-determined objectives.

We've covered the benefits of PRINCE2 before, but it's time to take a look at how it can be put to use in a digitisation strategy.  

Using a capable project management method to carry out the transition means nothing is left to chance and the digitisation shift occurs seamlessly.

As the method can be flexible, businesses of all sizes should find it easy to tailor a specific digitisation strategy.

What's more, PRINCE2 can be used time and again on various projects, helping to ensure any endeavours within the business are guided correctly.

Digitisation is certainly the future of file management within organisations, but it's important that businesses proceed with implementations with the utmost care.

PRINCE2 is the perfect tool in this regard and is certainly the best possible option for businesses undertaking the digitisation process.

Get up to speed on the most capable methods and frameworks

If you're looking to upskill your employees to face the challenges of new projects and technology implementations – not to mention security – then frameworks and methodologies are certainly the answer.

These proven tools can provide a solid foundation for your staff, ensuring they're ready to face a number of challenges. Of course, it's important that workers undertake the right training and certification to get the most out of a particular framework or method.

Whether it's ITIL, PRINCE2 or SABSA, businesses need to consider powerful frameworks.

How ITIL can foster transformation

IT has fast become the centre of attention in businesses across the globe and it's now used for everything from internal staff development to creating stronger ties with customers.

For example, businesses use IT systems to manage staff and expand operations, as well as developing new applications for customers. A focus on mobile has also arisen in turn, with mobile communication and productivity now necessities for all companies.

The ITIL framework is designed specifically to help both organisations and individuals realise transformation through IT and offer continuous benefits over the long term. This is a framework that can be used time and again.

Key benefits include:

Managing a project with PRINCE2

It's important to effectively run projects, regardless of whether they're tiny two-day conferences or large endeavours taking place over several months.

If they aren't managed correctly this opens the door to rampant cost and deadline overruns.

The answer to project management concerns is PRINCE2, an essential tool for guidance for individuals and organisations running a project.

One of the best things about PRINCE2 is that it's exceptionally easy to learn and flexible enough to meet the needs of various projects. Like ITIL, this makes it a perfect tool that can be used time and again over the long term, for different projects within the company.

This framework was developed by the UK government, and is used throughout the public and private sector. This is for good reason too, as it offers best practice in project management.

PRINCE2 certainly needs to be considered to ensure projects never go off track.

Placing emphasis on security with SABSA

Security is a growing concern in the business world, especially with the seemingly never ending onslaught of cyberattacks against large corporations and governments across the globe.

These leave organisations facing crippling financial issues and rampant reputation damage – certainly difficult to overcome.

What's needed is a capable tool designed to ensure that the security architectures of organisations are up to task of protecting against new cyber threats.

The final framework is SABSA, a methodology designed for enterprise security architecture and service management. This is the world's leading open security architecture framework and methodology and is designed to handle the entire security process.

SABSA guides companies from the concept stages through to design, development, implementation and management. This means businesses are using a tool that leaves nothing to chance – vital when it comes to security.

Choosing a provider

These frameworks and methods may sound difficult to implement, but it's only a matter of using the right certifications and provider.

These experienced professionals ensure that all necessary topics are covered as part of the certification, placing companies in the best possible position to take advantage of the tools.

ALC Training offers ITIL, PRINCE2, SABSA and a range of other courses in cities both within Australia and across the globe. These courses are suited to groups of any size, whether it's a small team or an entire department.

Get in touch today if you'd like to get up to speed on the latest frameworks and certifications.

Securing your architectures with the right certification

Few other things matter as much as enterprise architecture security, especially when these architectures are used for critical business operations.

These are the underlying systems that provide a foundation for the enablement of business.

Of course, to enable business it's necessary to seize opportunities through risk – something that in turn requires tight integration between risk, opportunity management and the architecture itself.

Securing your architectures

To grow, businesses need to take manageable risks to seize opportunities. This can often be an issue, however, as security needs to remain a top priority.

It's here where the Securing Your TOGAF Environment course can be extremely useful, as it's designed to teach participants how to combine proven SABSA techniques for creating enterprise security architectures with features from TOGAF.

This takes place over a period of two days, and uses both classroom lectures and hands-on exercises designed to provide the best possible learning experience.

Participants (whether individuals, groups or businesses) gain an understanding how to augment TOGAF with SABSA techniques to develop security architectures and create more tightly aligned enterprise architectures.

What businesses are left with are architectures designed to manage risk and opportunity.

What you'll learn

This course delivers a number of learning objectives, including:

Speak with ALC Training today if you'd like to start creating enterprise security architectures with the latest features of TOGAF.

ALC Training also offer a substantial number of other courses focusing on IT service management and project management, deliverable wherever in the world they're required.

SaaS now essential for business operations

Infrastructure is often costly to operate, whether it's a small-scale server in a small business designed to handle storage or a data centre run by an organisation to operate customer services.

There's no denying that it's better for a company to circumvent these high costs, especially if this can be achieved without sacrificing security or control over services.

Software as a Service (SaaS) is the answer, and it represents one of the bigger shifts in IT operations for an organisation. It involves a transition from the traditional model of onsite hardware and software to services run by a provider offsite.

It's now time for organisations of all sizes to consider this digital transition, and the best way to do so effectively.

What is SaaS?

SaaS is a truly a significant shift away from traditional software management, and involves businesses licensing software through a subscription system. This means there are no high capital costs and staff access the software through a web browser.

In turn, this makes scaling far easier, and businesses can simply request support from a provider to add further users. Following a brief call, the provider can increase a client's allocation, almost instantly.

Similar terms grouped under the "as a service" title include infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS).

A digital transition

Moving to SaaS means greater cost savings in the IT department, further agility and a renewed focus on innovation. A Gartner survey released on 25 November highlighted these benefits, polling respondents from a number of countries.

"The most commonly cited reasons the survey found for deploying SaaS were for development and testing production/mission-critical workloads," said Joanne Correia, a research vice president at Gartner.

She explained that while early SaaS adoption focused on small pilot projects (essentially "testing the ropes"), recent projects are on a far larger scale.

"Today, the projects are mission-critical and production grade. This is an affirmation that more businesses are comfortable with cloud deployments."

The Gartner study explained CIOs are using the cloud to create a modern IT environment, one focused on innovation. Business leaders, on the other hand, see the cloud as way solely to save costs. In these instances, they're overlooking some of the more pertinent strategic benefits offered by this transition.

Businesses will have to assess whether the SaaS model is the best possible option to both drive innovation and bring down IT costs.

Managing the change effectively

Moving to SaaS is substantial business IT shift – but there's no denying the necessity of doing so. Of course, to handle the transition without large disruption to business operations it can be a good idea to consider using a proven change management framework such as PRINCE2.

This methodology, which was designed by the UK government and has now been in use for several decades, can be utilised by companies of all sizes and for a large number of projects.

If a business is hosting a tradeshow, the framework provides a set of proven guidelines to ensure all objectives are met over the course of the event. Likewise, when moving to SaaS, PRINCE2 establishes a strong support structure that ensures there are no oversights.

It's easy to get started with this methodology, and training in the framework often means any future projects within the business are in good hands.

ALC Training is a leading provider of project management courses, like PRINCE2 and other renowned frameworks. Get in touch with us today if you'd like to ensure you start projects on the right footing.

Digital economy changing technology spending and jobs focus

Much of the focus of technological change may appear to lie in the US and Asia, but it's rapidly impacting organisations in Australia and New Zealand. 

The move to digital business is a substantial one, and will continue to have resounding effects throughout organisations across the globe.

We've already taken a look at the skills necessary for digital business success, but what are some of the other effects of this tectonic IT shift?

If there's one thing that's a certainty with IT development, it's the need for effective IT governance and change management.

This article will take a look at how the shift to digital business is impacting technology spending, and what's happening to the job market.

A shift in technology spending

Digital business is causing a massive change in spending, with expenditure on technology products and services predicted to reach to nearly AU$78.7 billion in Australia in 2015. Gartner outlined this spending growth in a recent report exploring digital business.

It's not just Australia set to experience this shift, with New Zealand also about to see spending reach nearly NZ$11.6 billion. Across the globe, spending will reach US$3.9 trillion by the end of next year.

Gartner claims that the majority of this spending is stemming from a rush to transition into digital business.

At a Gartner Symposium in November, Peter Sondergaard, a senior vice president at Gartner, explained the shift in IT spending. He also detailed exactly what organisations need to do in order to effectively handle the change.

"Digital startups sit inside your own organisation, in your marketing department, in HR, in logistics and in sales. Your business units are acting as technology startups."

"Australia and New Zealand are increasingly known for creative and design expertise, with leading global vendors looking here to make acquisitions."

He finished by explaining that other businesses need to tap into this "digital startup" way of thinking, and use it as a competitive advantage.

How is digital business changing jobs?

Any substantial shift in an industry is certainly going to impact the jobs market, and this can clearly be seen in the digital transition.

Gartner explained that by 2018, digital businesses will acquire 50 per cent fewer process workers. Digital jobs, on the other hand, are set to see a 500 per cent boost as a result of digital business demand.

It's going to be important for organisations to be acutely aware of such massive changes. What's more, jobs are further set to see changes over the next few years.

Current favourable skills: Right now, mobile, user experience and data sciences were noted as the key skills to have, and the ones that CIOs were needing to hire or outsource for.

Skills in three years: In three years time, this will transition to smart machines, robotics and automated judgement. Such a shift highlights the growing role of robotics across a number of fields.

In seven years: Following this transition, Gartner predicts a surge in the number of specialised digital jobs, which include integration specialists, regulatory analysts and risk professionals.

Preparing for change

These digital business transitions may appear daunting, but it's important for organisations to focus on the near future in order to remain ahead of curve.

"You must build talent for the digital organisation of 2020 now. Not just the digital technology organisation, but the whole enterprise," Mr Sondergaard said.

Neglecting to prepare for change could mean companies are left playing catch-up over the next few years – something which needs to be avoided.

Capable project management practices could prove essential here, especially given the adaptability to a number of organisations. Using PRINCE2, a project management methodology, is likely to be one of the most effective steps.

Get in touch with ALC Training today, a provider of PRINCE2 and other leading frameworks, to find out more.

The value of a data-driven approach

Data has the capability to drive businesses forward, providing valuable insight and opportunities for organisations.

Usage is set to see massive growth over the next few years, and the time is now for companies to begin planning an implementation.

In fact, data production is set to be 44 times greater in 2020 than 2009, according to research from CSC. This certainly highlights the speed at which the industry is moving, and the necessity of acting sooner, rather than later.

Failure to consider the benefits of data could mean businesses are left behind as competitors take advantage of useful information.

By using data with the right tools, people and intent, organisations can drive success across a number of areas within the company. For example, by better predicting how different trends impact the business.

Of course, there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed prior to jumping on board.

The benefits and challenges of data

Access to data means it's easier for companies to analyse their particular market, especially when it comes to revealing new insights.

The applications of increased data access are broad, and it means the information can be used by many sectors. For example, a medical institution may take advantage of data to better understand a particular disease, while a supermarket chain could see what products perform well.

If managed correctly, data can also be deployed without interfering with standard business operations. However, there are still challenges.

In a Bain and Company survey, the organisation found that 56 per cent of executive respondents reported they were not up to the challenge of identifying and prioritising relevant insights.

The company explained the required business approach: "Successful analytics teams build those capabilities by blending data, technical and business talent.

The company outlined the required business approach, stating that successful analytics teams blended data, technical and business talent to achieve results.

Security is another key area that requires attention, as increased data access could leave a business with a higher chance of important information leaking – whether or not it's intentional. It's here where a focus on IT security is necessary.

US Department of Energy deploys data-centric technologies

The US Department of Energy has recently recognised the value of data, and adopted a "data centric" approach with IBM. The government department awarded two contracts to develop and subsequently deliver advanced super computing systems focused on data.

According to IBM, these systems could not have come at a better time for the department, as the world is now generating over 2.5 billion gigabytes of data every day.

Managing and analysing this information requires the appropriate systems, which IBM was capable of providing.

Through the use of the data centric approach to architecture, a system pioneered by IBM researchers, the Department of Energy can better manage and effectively utilise relevant information.

The value of project management

As data continues to grow as a key consideration for businesses, it's essential to utilise effective management. Often, a framework such as PRINCE2 is the best course of action.

This methodology, which is taught to employees of a company via a series of courses, provides the necessary knowledge to effectively handle a large business transition, such as a shift to increased data usage.

Once in place, the company can scale operations to take advantage of data, using the more detailed information to benefit operations.

To start the PRINCE2 certification process, it's a good idea to speak to a professional from a leading provider, such as ALC Training.

It's not just government departments that can use data, however, as companies of all sizes can benefit from increased access to information.

Looking ahead, it's going to become ever-more important to consider the value of data implementation as production increases.

Third platform growth and changing data centres

Data centres are the backbone of modern IT infrastructure, responsible for the deployment of cloud platforms, video conferencing and online services.

The number of centres has grown in recent years, driven by the ever-increasing demand for infrastructure. In fact, the most recent IBISWorld snapshot found that Australian data centre growth from 2010-15 stood at 9.1 per cent, and revenue at $601 million.

This isn't taking into account the growth of data centres in other countries across the globe, where expansion is higher still. Developing economies are seeing rapid uptake of IT services, following the lead of western nations that adopted the new technologies in recent years.

However, there could be a limit on this growth, if new third platform predictions from the International Data Corporation (IDC) are to be believed.

What is the third platform?

The third platform of IT is a term that groups together cloud computing, mobile technologies, Big Data and social endeavours into what's set to be the next stage of IT operations.

The IDC claims that this platform is where IT is heading over the next few years, succeeding earlier growth in the first two platforms: data centres and internet technology. Third platform growth is predicted to impact both IT providers and businesses.

How is it impacting data centres?

It's also set to impact data centre expansion, and is actually having an effect now. The IDC estimated in a November 2014 report that the total number of global data centres would peak at 8.6 million in 2017, and subsequently decline slowly.

A drop off in the number of data centre server rooms and internal server closets is predicted to lead the decline, with standard data centres remaining largely unaffected. These are commonly the facilities run by companies to provide new cloud services.

Growth of these more standard data centres will result in space increasing globally from 1.58 billion square feet in 2013 to 1.94 billion square feet in 2018.

This shift from onsite IT service management to hosted alternatives will mean a change in provider expectations, as companies seek consistent data centre services. This is those that can scale to the needs of the business and reliably deliver services.

"Over the next five years, a majority of organisations will stop managing their own infrastructure," said Richard L Villars, a vice president at the IDC.

"They will make greater use of on-premise and hosted managed services for their existing IT assets, and turn to dedicated and shared cloud offerings in service provider data centers for new services."

He went on to explain how providers will rapidly begin to grow their data centre operations, remodelling, building and acquiring new facilities to meet demand.

Third platform growth is dependant on larger data centres, as many companies will be unable to manage cloud platforms onsite.

As use of the third platform grows, smaller data centre setups within companies will decline.

Shifting to a new mode of operations

The third platform of IT represents a turnaround from traditional IT operations, and coupled with data centre changes businesses will need to prepare to implement the new services.

One of the biggest changes is certainly going to be the shift in how services are acquired and managed, as providers take over the brunt of data centre operations.

Shifting to this new mode of operations may seem difficult, but it can be made substantially easier with the use of a capable framework, such as PRINCE2 from ALC Training.

This framework means it's simple for a company to institute a large change, and manage the entire process – something that's often difficult to achieve using traditional project management tools.

To find out where PRINCE2 courses are available, and the necessary steps to gain certification, speak to the expert team at ALC Training today.

Bimodal IT necessary for digital business success

Few other sectors can have the same transformative effects on businesses as IT, especially as the technologies continue to advance year after year.

The influx of technology into organisations across the globe is driving digital business – a new mode of operations that "blurs the line the between the digital and the physical worlds," according to research organisation Gartner.

"Digital business promises to usher in an unprecedented convergence of people, business, and things that disrupts existing business models."

To ensure success in this new age of operations, companies will need to turn to bimodal IT operations.

What is bimodal IT?

Bimodal IT is basically the concept of utilising two different IT methodologies in the same environment. For example, the "traditional IT" team handles the day-to-day operations of testing and deploying correctly, while an "agile IT" team is focused on change and adapting to an evolving IT landscape.

Pushing into digital operations

Digital operations offer unparalleled opportunities for business success across a number of areas including e-commerce, marketing, new analytical tools and greater interactions with customers. This is a revolution, and something that continues to change how businesses connect and collaborate.

With a global population of over seven billion people and around 35 billion devices constantly communicating and relaying information across the globe every day, businesses are stepping into a digital age.

Focusing on digital operations will mean access to new customers, relevant business data and the ability to drive operational efficiencies.

Of course, there are a number of factors that need to be considered before organisations can push into the digital age.

The need for bimodal IT

Companies can't simply rush into this new mode of IT however, as doing so without proper preparation could lead to unsuccessful implementation. In turn, this could lead to less than desirable results.

Bimodal IT is the key to digital business success, as it can prove instrumental in developing the speed and agility required by an organisation to meet digital challenges. Of course, companies also need to ensure operations are solid and fluid.

In a new report, researchers from Gartner explained that while business leaders can't transform companies into digital startups, they can move into bimodal IT operations.

"Forty-five per cent of CIOs state they currently have a fast mode of operation, and we predict that 75 per cent of IT organisations will be bi-modal in some way by 2017," said Peter Sondergaard, senior vice president at Gartner.

Embracing risk

Risk certainly plays a significant role in startups, but it's often something larger organisations would rather avoid. However, it's unavoidable in digital operations, and companies will certainly experience risk to some degree.

"In digital business, you must change your relationship with risk. Digital risk is not something to mitigate. Instead, embrace risk. Taking risk is a conscious leadership decision," said Tina Nunno, a vice president and Gartner Fellow. 

She explained that focusing on what risks to take is important, and ignoring them completely is "tragic".

This will certainly go against traditional practices, but it's something that can provide innumerable benefits.

Managing IT operations

Digital operations are a new way of approaching business, and certainly one that requires appropriate focus. Given the advantages over traditional modes of operation it's necessary for organisations to consider the benefits of a digital shift.

Project management can prove essential during the transformation, helping to guide the company along a predetermined path to success. A framework such as PRINCE2, which has been designed specifically for project management, can ensure that any digital endeavour is implemented correctly.

On the other hand, ITIL, and IT service management frameworks, can help companies to manage digital business operations.

Whatever the framework, whether ITIL or PRINCE2, it's a good idea to speak to the experts at ALC Training. ALC can deliver courses throughout the Asia Pacific, including key cities in Australia such as Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.

What’s involved in Business Analysis Foundation?

Modern IT departments need to effectively interact and engage with the business side of operations, especially as the use of IT grows within small and large organisations. 

Business analysts certainly understand the need for IT, and the associated problems and opportunities that information technology can offer. In turn, this means they're able to recommend solutions and strategies, defining and validating a project at the earliest possible stage.

Regardless of whether or not the role of a business analyst is defined within the project, it's important for key team members to be versed in the techniques and necessary tools to bring about change.

With the right certification, an organisation can grow a capable team of business analysts. These staff can act as translators and liaisons between stakeholders, so as to communicate requirements for change to business processes.

The Business Analysis Foundation course is especially useful, and companies and business leaders need to consider it.

Understanding Business Analysis

This is the practice of enabling change within an organisation, chiefly by defining needs and recommending solutions. Often, these are solutions capable of delivering value to stakeholders.

The business analyst role, which includes systems analysts and requirements engineers, relies on business analysis skills for success. These are agents of change within a company, using disciplined approaches for introducing and managing change within organisations – regardless of their size and type.

These experts use analysis to identify and articulate the need for change and subsequently facilitate it. This expertise and knowledge is especially useful when leading a company through unchartered territory in order to get to the desired destination.

Essentially, a business analyst can prove to be an essential asset to an organisation, ensuring companies can improve the way business is conducted. 

"The value of business analysis is in realisation of benefits, avoidance of cost, identification of new opportunities, understanding of required capabilities and modelling the organisation," The International Institute of Business Analysis website explained.

Business Analysis Foundation

ALC Training offer a comprehensive course in the foundations of Business Analysis. This details a number of categories necessary to develop a better understanding of Business Analysis.

Here are three of the key topic areas:

Who should attend the Business Analysis Foundation course?

This course is appropriate for everyone within the company requiring an understanding of Business Analysis, including business analysts themselves, team leaders, change managers and project managers.

Companies can also have system engineers take part – something that is especially useful, as they'll have a strong understanding of the analysis process.

Once participants have completed the course, they'll have a solid foundation of knowledge that is necessary for the next stage of modular certificates.

It can also be useful when to comes time to take part in higher level courses. For example, the ISEB Diploma in Business Analysis.

Upon completion of the diploma, candidates should be capable of demonstrating the role and competencies of a business analyst, business system and process modelling, stakeholder analysis and business case development.

Other areas include management of business change and investigation and modelling techniques.

The depth of the content covered here is comprehensive, but ensures participants are fully versed in the required knowledge.

If you'd like to learn more about the Business Analysis Foundation Course, or begin training for your organisation, contact the team at ALC Training today.

ALC can deliver courses across Australia and throughout the Asia Pacific.

Preparing for the Industrial Internet

The past decade has given rise to a number of new trends such as Big Data, the cloud and the Internet of Things, forever changing how companies operate.

With the Internet of Things, organisations have access to in-depth information that's highly relevant to particular industries as it's gathered from a variety of sources. Big Data has meant companies are then able to utilise this data effectively.

The Industrial Internet is the combination of these Big Data analytics processes and the Internet of Things and is set to bring significant changes to businesses.

This article will take a look at the Industrial Internet, where it's going and how it affects organisations.

Understanding the Industrial Internet

The Industrial Internet is a powerful trend, and means companies can gain access to highly specialised information that's relevant to their business.

For example, an aerospace company can install thousands of sensors within a jet engine, and subsequently have these sensors communicate across the internet to log information in a central database. While the engine is in use, the sensors accumulate data such as the speed at which components are moving, air pressure and structural tension.

The aerospace company can then use this data to better understand what causes issues within the engine, and where improvements can be made. It's easy to see how there's far more relevant information generated through use of the Industrial Internet than other trends.

Of course, it's not solely limited to use by large aerospace companies, as a range of businesses can also take advantage of this trend. Sectors such as power generation, manufacturing, healthcare and distribution can all make use of improved access to relevant data.

A growing trend

This is expanding, and it's predicted to see significant expansion in the near future. In fact, a study titled Defining and Sizing of the Industrial Internet predicted that global spending could reach US $500 billion by 2020. This is conservative too, with the study explaining that it could in fact reach as high as $15 trillion of global GDP by 2030.

Given this massive growth, it's certainly time for businesses to begin preparing to take on the trend.

A study from GE and Accenture found that the executives of industrial companies are already aware of value of the Industrial Internet, and are ramping up Big Data spending to enhance access to new sources of information.

The two companies performed a survey as part of the study, and noted that 73 per cent of companies are investing more than 20 per cent of technology budgets on Big Data, and over two in 10 are investing above 30 per cent. This spending is also predicted to increase during the next year.

Companies across various industrial sectors are increasingly ramping up analytics spending, especially in sectors such as oil and gas, rail, manufacturing and aviation.

There's certainly no denying it's worth business consideration, given the growth of this trend.

What organisations can do

The Industrial Internet isn't something that's implemented overnight, however, especially in businesses that have an established way of garnering information. As such, it's important the endeavour is put in place with an appropriate management framework guiding the implementation.

PRINCE2 is an effective option, being one of the most highly-developed and utilised project frameworks in the world. With PRINCE2 training, businesses are using a methodology that's been constantly refined and upgraded. In addition to this, it's a highly flexible framework that suits a number of projects.

By implementing the Industrial Internet with PRINCE2, a company can ensure that the trend is put in place correctly, with a low chance of errors or significant setbacks.

Get in touch with ALC Training/PDA today if you'd like to find out more about the most appropriate ways to handle an Industrial Internet implementation.

Considering the benefits of teleworking

Companies can often find it difficult to consider new modes of operation, whether it's a cloud computing platform or a new way for employees to work.

Teleworking is one of these approaches, and can offer significant improvements for both staff and businesses. It's important to understand why project management is needed before implementation.

This article will explore the advantages of establishing teleworking in a business, and how the PRINCE2 framework can be instrumental in its success.

Understanding teleworking

Allowing staff to work from home isn't an entirely new concept, but it's become substantially easier with the advent of faster internet connections and the proliferation of mobile devices.

Implementation depends on the business, such as what work can actually be performed by staff outside of the office, but it usually means they're able to replicate their job from anywhere with an internet connection.

Of course, companies can limit the number of staff able to telework and the systems accessible outside of the business. This is crucial to ensure there's no security issues.

The key facts

Teleworkers who are able to perform their jobs from home, anywhere from one to three days a week, are more productive than their counterparts relegated to the office.

This is according to a new study commissioned by Cisco, which surveyed over 1,800 employees and 100 managers from businesses across New Zealand and Australia.

The study uncovered a number of interesting statistics, which found significant productivity improvements through the implementation of teleworking.

Here, several key results from the survey have been broken down:

A number of Australian and New Zealand businesses certainly understand the value of teleworking, as they've begun to utilise it.

Putting PRINCE2 into effect

PRINCE2 is a project management framework that's been discussed previously, and it's designed to ensure that projects within organisations are implemented effectively.

Companies considering teleworking need to understand that a project management framework can be helpful, ensuring the physical systems are put in place correctly.

PRINCE2 can accomplish this thanks to the adaptability built into the framework – this is also why PRINCE2 is used by governments and organisations around the world.

Getting started with PRINCE2 is quite simple, and only requires businesses (or IT professionals and individuals) to enrol in a course with a provider.

Moving forward

There's no denying that teleworking will continue to grow, given the benefits seen through implementation. Of course, companies need to ensure that any such endeavour is done so correctly to avoid potential issues.

It's also important to consider the validity of teleworking on a per business basis, to avoid any potential communication breakdowns that may result from splitting staff or teams.

Speak with ALC Training/PDA today if you'd like to find out about the frameworks able to mitigate these problems.

Driving project improvement with PRINCE2

Project success is determined by the management practices being used to drive the development, regardless of whether the project is underway in a small business or a large government organisation.

Having strong management practices in place (or frameworks), means that from the outset, a project is controlled capably and is more likely to deliver tangible results to the business.

PRINCE2 – an acronym for PRojects IN Controlled Environments – is a framework that's proven to be effective in the private sector and within governments. This is why it's currently utilised to great effect by the UK government.

But what defines PRINCE2 and how can it be used to drive better projects?

What defines PRINCE2?

Following publishing in 1996, after receiving contributions from around 150 European organisations, the framework saw wide implementation given the benefits it was able to offer to project improvement.

This framework can give businesses greater control over resources and more effective management of both business and project risk.

What's more, PRINCE2 is more than a framework for specialised staff and provides value to project managers, directors and executives, organisations and even individuals.

Driving better projects

As a project management framework, the benefits of PRINCE2 lie within its versatility. This is a framework that's suited to a number of projects across a range of companies.

Once participants have progressed through the courses and certifications, they'll have access to a strong suite of skills, including:

Another key element of the PRINCE2 framework is within the risk management capabilities, which can be vital to ensure projects never deviate off plan. On larger projects, when substantial time and financial commitments are at play, this capability can be especially useful.

What are the necessary courses?

Of course, once companies or individuals understand the need for a course, it's time to actually begin the appropriate training. There are several courses available for PRINCE2, each focusing on a different area for businesses.

It's important to note that not every course is needed for every individual, as they're tailored to meet different needs.

Below, each of these has been briefly detailed.

PRINCE2 Practitioner Certificate: This is a five-day course designed for aspiring or current project management professionals who need to master the framework. It's also useful for those intending to become trainers or consultants.

PRINCE2 Foundation Certificate: Those who need a basic understanding of PRINCE2 will want to consider the Foundation Certificate. It's also useful when professional-level knowledge isn't needed.

PRINCE2 Practitioner Prep: Upgrading knowledge to the Practitioner level is easy with the Practitioner Prep course, and there is a larger focus on case studies and exercises to reinforce knowledge.

Directing a Project with PRINCE2: While the other courses can take place over several days, this course is available as a half or single day meeting. It's designed for critical stakeholders on the project.

Implementing PRINCE2: The exam and certification are only the first steps for PRINCE2, and this course shows how to embed it within the organisation successfully.

Conclusion

Getting started with PRINCE2 is easy, and it only requires taking part in the necessary frameworks available from leading providers like ALC Training/PDA. Starting with a capable course provider means those taking part receive up to date training that's proven to be effective.

Get in touch today if you'd like to find out more about the many advantages of taking part in a course designed to deliver results.