PRINCE2 - More Important than Ever

Don’t you think Prince2 has pretty much been “The talk” of the industry? It sure is!

But why? Have you thought of it ever? 

Well, we have examined some of these key challenges and how PRINCE2 can help. Have a look!

1. Under pressure to do more with less

Expanded productivity – through the organized methodology and instruments to oversee cost, chance, and ideal conveyance, PRINCE2 empowers venture supervisors to design, oversee, and convey extends productively. A custom-made methodology explicit to the venture shows that PRINCE2 is adaptable, adaptable, repeatable; guaranteeing the fitting measure of arranging, control, and administration is applied.

2. Limited resources

Arrangement with business targets brings about asset and venture being upgraded through consistent realignment with business destinations, guaranteeing proceeded with business support. This is especially helpful if a restricted asset is utilized successfully.

3. Organizational approaches to project management

Oversee change successfully – PRINCE2 gives the structure and administration to start, oversee, and convey change inside an association. What's more, it mitigates hazard through overseeing by stages. This empowers dangers to be brought and settled up in an opportune way.

4. Poor communication

Improved correspondence inside groups and with partners – the jobs and obligations of PRINCE2 decrease the odds of helpless correspondence. What's more, PRINCE2 empowers joint effort – it guarantees a typical language and approach over the task group and association.

5. Meeting stakeholder and customer expectations

Improved correspondence with partners and clients – the jobs and duties of PRINCE2 guarantee that the client, provider, and client interests are spoken to and met.

The importance of senior management

The significance of powerful senior administration is a key supporter of task achievement. Accordingly and to help organizations further, AXELOS has built up a Directing Guide that covers the inquiries much of the time posed by individuals who support or direct tasks. It has been structured explicitly for venture sheets to use as a source of perspective and fits together flawlessly with the Managing Guide. It is tied in with being in balance, as the undertaking board and the venture chief must cooperate to guarantee that the task is a triumph.

Driving business change through successful projects

Axelos latest research report “The Power of Professional Certification” has shown that accomplishing certification imparts trust in the people and permits them to perform at their best. The report additionally expresses that chiefs and end-clients place a high incentive on PPM accreditation and this is relied upon to be popular throughout the following two years and past. 

PRINCE2 furnishes people and associations with the best reasonable direction and support of procured information to create abilities and procedures. This will bolster them to prevail with regard to changing their business. So hope on the boat, and join our Prince2 Training sessions right away!

Source: novelvista.com

Continue reading

How Much Does PRINCE2 Certification Cost in 2021?

Looking for PRINCE2 Certification? Well, you have reached the right destination.

PRINCE2 is the most sought-after certification among every organization when it comes to Project Management. For those who don’t know much about PRINCE2 Certification, it is a process-based methodology that has been broadly used in the project management area. It is based on 7 basic principles that make sure the entire project management framework is no more a slippery slope:

More Info: PRINCE2 Certifications

◉ Starting Up a Project - SU

◉ Initiating a Project- IP

◉ Directing a Project- DP

◉ Controlling a Stage- CS

◉ Managing Product Delivery - MP

◉ Managing a Stage Boundary - SB

◉ Closing a Project - CP

PRINCE2 has always gained much more attention than any other project management methodologies like MSP and PMP. In fact, it is believed that PRINCE2 can cause a revolution in the world of project management. 

Components in Prince2 Certification:

PRINCE2 is an acronym for PRojects IN Controlled Environments and is a very popular best practices approach across the industries.

PRINCE2 certification has two main levels-

1. PRINCE2 Foundation

2. PRINCE2 Practitioner.

AXELOS is neither a training organisation nor an exam body. It’s a joint venture set up to manage, develop and operate qualifications in the best practices.

A little History

PRINCE2 is the project management standard across the globe, accepted by all industries. The history of PRINCE2 starts from 1980’s when UK Government was looking for solutions to the most common problems being faced. They were looking for a focussed method to overcome some major issues like timely deliverability, quality issues etc. One such solution was PROMPT - Project Resource Organisation Management and Planning Techniques and was set up by a private sector company namely Simpact Systems.

PROMP - II was adopted in 1989 by UK Government and then it was developed and renamed as PRINCE2 in 1996. There were 2 major revisions in PRINCE2 method, in 2009 and 2017 respectively.

PRINCE2 Foundation Certification Cost:

PRINCE2 Foundation Certification’s course helps you to get introduced to the basics of PRINCE2 Methodologies. It helps you attain sufficient knowledge of PRINCE2 methodology. PRINCE2 Foundation Course is developed in such a fashion that candidates can easily get prepared. Some of the major outcomes are as follows

◉ Helps you to develop a common and consistent approach

◉ Better Organizational Skills

◉ Trigger regular reviews of progress against plan

◉ Ensures Project runs in a right direction

◉ Helps you clearly define individuals roles and responsibilities and monitor individual performances

◉ Helps you to create and deliver better value to the customer

PRINCE2 certification is the basic prerequisite for PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification. 

The standard cost for PRINCE2 Foundation is Rs.26, 000 and is delivered in various modes like classroom, online training, and self-paced as well.

PRINCE2 Practitioner Cost:

PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification confirms that the holder has achieved a sufficient understanding of how to apply PRINCE2 in a scenario situation and will, in a suitable direction, be able to start applying the method to a real project. PRINCE2 Practitioner is a perfect fit for professionals who are managing projects or working on a Project Management Role. PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification will help you to understand and gain better knowledge on various project aspects and will allow you to apply the PRINCE2 concepts effectively.

Aspiring Candidates can enroll for PRINCE2 Practitioner Training at a standard cost of Rs. 26 000.

PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner:

This is a compilation of both the PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner certification.

This is a combo offer for PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner wherein you can get certified on both the courses at a cost of Rs. 52,000.

Freebies for you to clear PRINCE2 Certification Exam:

PRINCE2 Certification exam preparation can be daunting and it is always advised to attend PRINCE2 Training. PRINCE2 certification examination is based on practical knowledge. Hence, there is a few free stuff specially designed by experts and  you might have be interested in. Have a look!

Practice Tests:

We provide free Practice Test for PRINCE2 certification which helps you to get yourself prepared for the real examination.

Key Features of Practice Tests

◉ 5 Full-length Practice Exams

◉ Multiple Attempts allowed

◉ 300+ Real Questions

◉ 3 Months Access

Webinars:

The more you gather knowledge about PRINCE2, the better chances you’ll have to crack the PRINCE2 Certification Exam. Hence, you need to stay hooked to the webinars being conducted on PRINCE2. Check out some of our webinars

ROI of Prince2 Certification:

According to PayScale.com, Prince2 Certified project managers can earn up to Rs 2 million. It seems like a pretty good ROI, isn’t it?

Source: novelvista.com

Continue reading

Do more with PRINCE2 with the NEW ProPath certification pathway

We are pleased to announce the launch of the new ProPath certification pathway! This exciting new certification scheme comes from AXELOS - global best practice qualifications specialists.

ProPath combines professional development courses in order to achieve a top designation. There are three routes you can take, each combining leading professional development courses from our parent company ILX, along with our renowned PRINCE2® courses.

Let’s take a look at the ProPath pathways:

Candidates can choose from the ProPath Project Expert route OR the ProPath Agile Project Expert route, depending on whether you operate PRINCE2 or PRINCE2 Agile® practices. For either of these designations you will need to obtain the PRINCE2 practitioner OR PRINCE2 Agile practitioner qualification along with ILX’s Management of Risks (M_o_R®) Practitioner qualification and their Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®) Practitioner qualification.

The third route option is the ProPath Programme Leader designation. This pathway comprises MSP Practitioner, Management of Portfolios (MoP®) Practitioner, and Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O®) Practitioner qualifications, all available from ILX.

Finally, the third and ultimate designation of ProPath Certified Portfolio Director can be achieved by completing two of these designation routes, ProPath Project Expert OR ProPath Agile Project Expert, AND ProPath Programme Leader.

Why combine?

ProPath brings together the world’s leading project, programme, and portfolio best practice certifications, for the breadth of skills you need to deliver meaningful organisational change, one step at a time.

Combining professional skills in this way offers you greater understanding of risk management, improved handling of more complex projects and programmes, and betters your ability to direct change. It has the potential to upgrade your leadership skills. You benefit from a wider business outlook and gain a more holistic view.

Candidates may already have the PRINCE2 or PRINCE2 Agile certification under their belts (either at Foundation or Practitioner level), and so ProPath is the perfect way to do more with your qualification. ProPath will further develop your knowledge and skills, ensuring you remain at the cutting edge of best practice.

Your career journey with ProPath

Embarking on a journey of continual learning with ProPath is hugely beneficial for professionals. It supercharges your PRINCE2 qualification, expanding and broadening your knowledge, and arming you with a greater skillset to practically apply to your role. ProPath helps develop a strategic mindset, aligning your projects and programmes to your organisation’s strategy.

Professionals certified in best practices and equipped to master the fast pace of change are becoming indispensable to business. In a world that is adapting at speed, organisations are looking to those who can provide the business with crucial skills, efficiencies, and guidance to make sound investments for the future.

ProPath has been designed as the industry-leading endorsement that you can do exactly that. It provides a progressive development structure of best practice certifications that are specifically geared towards delivering meaningful change in a changing world.

PRINCE2 or PRINCE2 Agile?

If you are new to our accredited PRINCE2 certifications and are wondering whether to opt for PRINCE2 or PRINCE2 Agile training as part of your ProPath journey, then read on.

Deciding which certification is right for you depends a lot on your working environment and industry. For industries and organizations requiring more structure and governance, PRINCE2 would be the more appropriate choice. PRINCE2 provides a step-by-step project management method and is perfect for managing stakeholder confidence with a centralized approach and reporting.

PRINCE2 Agile combines the governance of PRINCE2 with flexible, responsive agile practices. In this way it is the world’s most complete and comprehensive project management method, and is perfect for those in an agile workspace.

Whichever route you choose, know that you will benefit from industry-leading best practices and accredited project training. What’s more, our knowledgeable team of experts are on hand to help you to make the right choice to boost your career and launch your continual learning journey with ProPath.

Source: prince2.com

Continue reading

How Successful IT Leaders Facilitate a DevOps Culture for Large Teams

In the event that you've considered moving your group to a DevOps approach, you've most likely understood that it's not generally a clear procedure. Change requires some investment and will quite often experience obstruction. Here are three stages effective IT Leaders take while changing huge groups to a DevOps culture and attitude.

1. Have Clear Communication

Like executing any new tool or process, a fruitful DevOps change begins with a purchase in from your colleagues. To get that upfront investment, you have to guarantee that all colleagues have an away from what DevOps is (and isn't), the manner by which it will improve their day by day work processes and the arrangement for execution. Teaching colleagues will get them amped up for the end vision and address normal feelings of trepidation forthright. 

Having straightforward correspondence channels is a continuous need in DevOps. A few apparatuses and methodologies you can use to keep your group in the same spot are:

1. Daily standups

2. Team-based slack channels

3. Notifications from project management and code management tools.

Successful DevOps teams have regular and frequent communication, so everyone has clear visibility about what’s going on with all projects, agendas, and objectives.

2. Use Tools to Implement DevOps Best Practices

Picking the correct tool to empower groups to be fruitful is pivotal for actualizing DevOps. Numerous instruments can kick you off, yet it's significant not to let the number of decisions deaden dynamic. Pick apparatuses that help DevOps best practices, for example,

Test Automation

There is often a lack of existing knowledge and required infrastructure to support test automation, so putting it in place can seem daunting. One huge benefit is that it will deliver immediate value that is easily visible to teams and the organization as a whole.

Selenium is a great option for test automation for many DevOps teams. Getting started can be as easy as recording a Selenium test with their supported drivers. As the team builds experience within this area, they can improve the infrastructure to use other tools. For example, it’s very beneficial to use the robot framework to integrate test execution into CI/CD pipelines.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

Automating your workflows for continuous integration and continuous delivery is another important part of DevOps. Ensuring the code is handled correctly via workflow automation allows you to improve your processes and focus on the work at hand. By using tools such as Jenkins, MsTest, and Sonarqube, the build of the code can be consistently tested for each change a developer creates.

Tool Implementation

Once you choose a tool, start by transitioning small amounts of a workflow over to the tooling first. This way, teams have the chance to get used to it before fully diving in. Once you have made some success, share it with the rest of the organization. Pilot programs work great to educate others, build confidence, and gain buy-in.

3. Know the Barriers

A good first step in the transition to a DevOps culture is assessing your current situation and understanding what barriers stand between different teams. Figure out how to eliminate those silos and improve the flow of cross-functional information.

The culture within your organization needs to encourage continuous improvement and discourage blame. Teams need to have the ability to build fast, fail fast, and learn from their mistakes. Put a structure in place for feedback to be received and addressed in real-time.

As with all agile processes, it’s important to stop and look back on how the process is working. Be sure to have retrospectives with your project and organizational team. That way, you can take what you learn, put it into effect, and iterate again. This helps you tailor the solution to your specific processes, and when teams see their feedback acted on, it builds morale.

If you’re interested in shifting your team to a DevOps culture but aren’t sure how to get started, join our DevOps training sessions to gain more knowledge about it.

Source: novelvista.com

Continue reading

ITIL V4 update - Why & What Is The Reason? - here all you need to know

Reason for ITIL 4?

While ITIL Foundation level gives a high-level overview, and Practitioner focuses on how to practically adopt and adapt the ITIL framework and as per response from all around the world from organizations and IT professionals, ITIL helps them to improve their business and provide a better service to the customers but current era is digital era right?

Every organization or companies want to transform their businesses on digital platform, so it’s very difficult for the service provider to make new changes in their process to provide a better service for each and every new customer.

That’s why service provider adopted various framework like DevOps, Agile, Lean etc. to improve their productivity and better delivery on time and to keep up with that the new ITIL 4 is here with such adoptions and for establishing IT service management system.

What’s New in ITIL 4?

ITIL is really thinking about the future and that’s why the big change is coming in early 2019

The first major update to ITIL is announced by Peter Hepworth from AXELOS at the itSMF USA fusion 2017 conference and ITIL includes of renewed focus on following core principles:

◉ How to maintain the core principles of quality service management.

◉ Practical approach on how to use ITIL from large to small organizations.

◉ How ITIL can be used along with frameworks such as DevOps, Agile and Lean.

How is the ITIL 4 Certification scheme?

ITIL 4 has been developed to help organizations to achieve excellence in better solution provider in the increasing demand from the current complex digital environment.

The new ITIL scheme has been designed to be compatible with ITIL V3 and efficient to encourage go beyond ITIL foundation level.

The ITIL 4 Certification Scheme comprises of the following modules:

• ITIL4 Foundation
• ITIL4 Managing Professional Transition Module (Bridge Course)
• ITIL Specialist modules (3)
• ITIL4 Specialist Create Deliver and Support
• ITIL4 Specialist High-Velocity IT
• ITIL4 Specialist Drive Stakeholder Value
• ITIL Strategist
• ITIL4 Strategist Drive, Plan & Improve
• ITIL Leader
• ITIL Master

Purpose of ITIL 4 Foundation:

◉ ITIL 4 foundation will be released by Axelos in first quarter of 2019.

◉ ITIL 4 foundation is the entry level certification, offering individuals and end learners a basic awareness of the key elements, core concepts and the terminology used in ITIL 4.

◉ ITIL 4 Foundation level is aimed at entry level professionals, those who require a basic understanding of ITIL, or would like to go for higher levels within the ITIL 4 certification scheme.

◉ The main purpose of ITIL 4 is to introduce candidates to modern IT-Enabled Service Management.

 

What are the timelines of release for the itil v4 certification scheme modules?

The ITIL 4 modules will be released according to the below top-level timelines. More detailed release dates of the modules and new exams will be released to ATOs with the launch of ITIL 4 Foundation. ATOs will be provided with accreditation details, guidance and sales enablement information in sufficient time to be able to support the release of the further ITIL 4 modules.

◉ ITIL Foundation – Q1 2019

◉ ITIL Specialist modules (3) – H2 2019

◉ ITIL Strategist – H2 2019

◉ ITIL Leader – H2 2019

◉ ITIL Master – details to be released at a later date

I know you are thinking about why you are talking about ITIL4 Certification.. so lets see some interesting fact and features

Features of ITIL 4:

◉ ITIL 4 will help businesses navigate the new technological era, commonly known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The speed of current breakthroughs is disrupting almost every industry on a global scale.

◉ The Fourth Industrial Revolution is marked by emerging technology in fields including robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology, The Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, autonomous vehicles and much more.

◉ ITIL 4 will provide a practical and flexible basis to support organizations on their journey into the new world of digital transformation by helping them align their human, digital and physical resources to compete within the modern complex landscape and adopt this emerging technologies into their IT operations.

◉ The context of ITIL, with the release of ITIL 4 is now much bigger, with an emphasis on the business and technology world, how it works today, and how it will work in the future with Agile, DevOps and digital transformation.

◉ ITIL 4 will be much more relevant to developers, practitioners and businesses as a whole through promoting a holistic view of delivering products and services.

◉ ITIL 4 will be much more relevant to developers, practitioners and businesses as a whole through promoting a holistic view of delivering products and services.

Source: novelvista.com

Continue reading

The Zenith of Success with a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) Certification

Quality Engineering is the key to many products that shape our day-to-day lives. From the phone we talk on, the computer we work on, or the vehicle we commute in, a Certified Quality Engineer plays an essential role in making the goods and devices we spend so much of our lives rely on.

Quality Engineers use different methods to identify, analyze, critique, and correct quality control procedures. Theirs is a job of constant revision, precision, and paying very close attention. This might involve testing products, taking part in demo groups and company think tanks, developing quality control systems, and analyzing quality assurance test results to ensure that the end product meets the user's exact needs.

The Quality Engineers, also known as quality assurance engineers, take an active part in assuring that the products and materials in an organization meet the quality standards. They analyze the quality of production using analytical and statistical methods and tools and implement them to test the precision, accuracy, and safety of products, processes, and production facilities. This is a complete guide for those interested in choosing the career of a quality engineer.

Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) Exam

Many organizations hire Certified Quality Engineers as they are in great demand. Take your career to the pinnacle of success with a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) exam. A Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) understands the principles of excellence evaluation and control for products and services. These professionals use “Quality Principles” outlined by the American Society for Quality (ASQ).

A Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) is a professional in the quality assurance field who holds a certification issued by the ASQ. An individual with this credential confirms their expertise, knowledge, and experience in quality engineering by skillfully managing the implementation of quality engineering processes. A background in statistics can help determine the CQE’s ability to troubleshoot and identify complex mechanical and tech systems problems.

Some major industries that employ CQEs include manufacturing, aviation, space, defense, pharmaceutical manufacturers, oil, automotive, biomedical devices, natural gas, chemical energy, industrial equipment, engineering firms, construction companies, and tools.

Some of the skills essential to the Certified Quality Engineering profession include problem-solving, analyzing data, exceptional organizational skills, leadership abilities, and interpersonal skills. Extended experience with theories of quality control, quality assurance, and laboratory regulations will help prospective CQEs get a leg up.

Overall, a thorough knowledge of quality improvement techniques and tools, quality principles and standards, and a keen perception of quality system development are a few of the other critical skills necessary to such positions in the fields of manufacturing, medicine, automotive, and many others.

Benefits of Becoming a Certified Quality Engineer

• Guarantees a level of technical support above and beyond an engineering degree.
• Supports continued support through continuing education requirements.
• Supports professional and good engineering practice.
• Demonstrates that you have accomplished a known standard of technical competency and professionalism.
• Increases your marketability. Certification can set you apart from others in your profession who are not Certified.
• Establishes personal and compact credentials that you can have during your career.
• Certification allows independence. Only Certified Quality Engineers can offer services to the public.
• Promotes engineering as a profession. As a CQE, you are a role model and example for the public and other engineers.
• Certification is needed for some positions and can be a significant asset for promotion and job security, even traditionally.
• Certification gives you more options and flexibility. A Certified Quality Engineer can work in industry, consulting, individual practice, government, and more with the capacity to transition from one to the other.

Train to Your Mind for becoming a Quality Engineer Today

Become a Quality Expert with ProcessExam’s Expert, CQE Certification Preparations. This Quality Engineer certification program helps you gain critical skills to lead operational excellence in transformational projects by improving quality and results.

Conclusion

There are enormous benefits of Quality Engineering. CQE can have a profound effect on process performance and product quality. Will have a positive influence on customer satisfaction. Voice of Customers is heard through the efficient use of Quality Engineering methods and tools. These are used during the product conception, development, and implementation processes.

Insert this into the product design, such that quality is designed and built into the product. This can have a significant impact on product quality and cost. Eventually, these gains will be seen in the organization’s bottom line.

Continue reading

Whats the difference between ITSM and ITIL?

Professionals who are new to the Service Management domain have the eternal haziness on the interconnections between the terms ITSM and ITIL. Exchange of these terms in different contexts take them to the point of thinking whether these are one and the same. Let us understand these terminologies, their objectives and demystify the relationship between these two.

IT Service Management:

IT Service Management which is abbreviated as ITSM stands for the specialized organizational capabilities of the Service Provider organizations which are leveraged in delivering value to customers through the IT services delivered. These capabilities includes all processes, tools, functions as well as tangible and intangible assets used by the organization for delivering customer value.

ITIL:

ITIL®, the popular acronym for IT Infrastructure Library, as its name indicates, was created as a library of books that document industry-accepted best practices for IT service and infrastructure management. Since its inception in early 1980s, it evolved through versions and matured from infrastructure management guidance to matured approach for managing the lifecycle of IT services from strategy to operations and final retirement. ITIL® provides a cohesive set of best practice guidance, drawn from private and public sectors internationally and helps service providers on the provision of quality services along with processes, functions and other capabilities required to support the services.

Read More: ITIL Practitioner

ITIL® became the most popular best practice guidance for Service Management, even to the extent that it became synonymous with ITSM. It is recognized worldwide as the best practice approach for delivering and managing IT services and is the choice of businesses across domains across the globe in streamlining IT operations.

Conclusion:

Today IT industry is at an interesting juncture. Digital technologies, which is considered as the fourth wave of industrial revolution is taking IT services by a storm through its gamut of options including Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Automation, Cloud-based services, agile service delivery and much more. IT Service Management which is tasked to manage all types of IT services irrespective of technologies and delivery models is right in the middle of the storm with the sublime task of strategizing and managing new age IT services driven by the digital world. New version of ITIL®, ITIL®4 is coming up to set the direction for this journey. It’s interesting times ahead for Service Management professionals to explore ITIL®4 and utilize the practices for driving IT services in the digital path.

Continue reading

How to implement ITIL in 4 easy steps?

How to Implement ITIL

ITIL Implementation? Is It Possible.....…My opinion…..You can’t.

That’s because ITIL is a framework of guidance and it is not something to be implemented; everything you do with ITIL and ITSM is about change in mind state or cultural transformation.

Today, too many businesses are still focused on delivering technology when they should be focused on providing an end-to-end service & achieve desired business growth.

Instead, ITSM professionals need to help businesses change attitudes and behaviors, focus on customers, customer requirement, outcomes, and business values and provide the linkage between them.

Implementation implies a start and a finish, but ITSM is about continual incremental improvements that are sustainable. So, how to do that successfully?

The few key factors which should be considered while ITIL implementation are:

1. Start from where you are 

The ideal way to begin ITIL journey is by considering the current situation.

There are many things which you are already doing, many things you can and can’t do: existing processes as well as current roles, cultures and behaviors, should all be reviewed and evaluated before making changes.

At this stage, many businesses just focus on the processes, but practitioners should refer to the guidance in ITIL: Planning to Implement Service Management and consider the following seven aspects:

◉ Organizations Vision

◉ Organizations strategy & Governance

◉ The People

◉ The Process

◉ The product and technology

◉ The culture, service and attitude

◉ The organization, communication and relationships 

Out of the above, process is only one part so it’s important to take a step back and look at what works and what doesn’t across all these areas. Then, you can identify your current capabilities and, critically, your pain points and where you’re bleeding from.

2. Where does the business want to be?

On many occasion it is observed and surprised to see that how often IT teams fail to understand their role within the bigger picture, they just fail to understand what business requirement is.

On many occasions when met with Customers IT Head or CIO, who, when asked about their current challenge and what they’re trying to achieve, they simply say: “we’re trying to make this or that work”. Their answer rarely illustrates overall objective the business is striving for.

Every organization has a certain culture and values it holds , but often IT teams don’t know these values or have a clear understanding of how their actions helps the business for achieving the bigger strategic goal. Instead, people are just too focused on the day job.

To use ITIL effectively, you need to understand how you fit in and the role of IT in the business strategy.

ITSM is there to make something better, faster or cheaper for customers and users and everyone need to always have that in mind.

3. Build capability

Once you know where you are and where the business wants to get to, you should then think about what you need to do to get there. ITSM is about building capability, which is the power and ability to do something.

The third stage, so-called ‘implementation’ is understanding the what, when and where of your capability. What are the priorities to improve?

What capabilities do you need to develop internally and what are you better to outsource?

Internally, businesses should be focusing on the high value activities whereas the repetitive elements should be done by someone else externally.

IT teams should also be thinking about how this approach will change over time. As ITSM evolves, I believe successful organizations will adopt a more service integrator role where internal IT teams oversee and bring together different providers to deliver an end-to-end service. This will then allow them to focus on the most important capabilities.

4. Evaluate and continue 

Every incremental change must bring value to an organization, and that is the objective of service improvement programs.

ITSM is continuous so make time from the day job to continually improve to deliver even greater value to the business.

Continue reading

Are you a collaborative leader?

Pyramid style hierarchies are being phased out in favour of a more collaborative leadership approach. Businesses from various industries have shifted to a flatter hierarchical structure in recent years. But where does this leave leaders? You still have the title and responsibility, so what’s changed? And what needs to change in order for you to be successful in your developing role? Read on to find out.

What is a collaborative leader?

In a shift away from siloed working, collaborative leaders share information and work together, with everybody taking responsibility for the whole. Managers, executives, and staff become less departmentalised and instead unite to form an open culture.

In contrast to traditional vertical structures where information flows from the top down, flatter structures create a more inclusive environment. In this way collaborative leaders must not only share knowledge but seek ideas and listen too. Through collaborative leadership employees feel valued and trusted. All parties are more engaged, productive and take ownership of their work.

Collaborative leaders…

1. Let go of the reins

Stepping back can be challenging, particularly if you have been in a traditional leadership role for a number of years. You may be in the habit of actioning ideas and delegating, but within collaborative leadership it is okay to not have all the answers. That’s where team working comes in.

When a business challenge presents itself openly discuss it with the entire team. Make your announcements an invitation for co-creation. Gaining perspectives is the ideal way to develop creative solutions. By collaborating you are admitting that your idea is not always the best one, which will humanise you amongst employees. They will gain respect for you as well as feel valued and appreciated when you engage with their ideas. Letting go of the reins for your team to innovate will pay off as you achieve the best possible outcome.

2. Value open communication

As a collaborative leader you must prioritise open communication. This means not only sharing information, but also engaging with employees. For collaborative practices to be successful all staff must feel they can share ideas and feedback without having to follow formal chains of command.

In order to break down silos, encourage collaboration across teams. Innovation and planning meetings which involve various parties - or any approach that encourages teams spending time together, communicating - can further strengthen your workplace’s open culture. Transparency and open lines of communication build a supportive environment and will help projects to progress.

3. Focus on a shared goal

With a free flow of ideas, innovations and communication you may be wondering how you reach end goals. The solution is for all parties to focus on a shared goal. Your shared goals should be defined at the start of the program, project or sprint. This puts everyone on the same page from the get-go, working together and progressing towards the same end results.

The other challenge you may discover is forming relationships with other egos. The collaborative leadership approach means you will be working closely with other leaders, and this can be tough if it is not something you have had to do in the past. Again, the key is to set out your shared goal. This will immediately bring you together, focussed on collaborating to achieve desired outcomes.

The benefits of the collaborative leadership style

In many ways collaborative leadership is much harder than traditional leadership, but it comes with such a host of benefits that make it worthwhile.

For one, you will gain a collective intelligence, which is far more productive and powerful. Think of your colleagues and employees as an untapped resource. Teams who cooperate build effective strategies and solve problems. What’s more, combining talents and ideas will energise, inspire and empower employees, making them more productive, loyal and hardworking as a result.

Whether the nature of your organisation’s hierarchy has flattened out or not, tweaking your leadership style to be more collaborative is sure to inspire your team and lead to victory.

Source: prince2.com

Continue reading