Aligning IT with the Business
One-day Seminar

For years, it has been generally accepted across the IT industry that in order for IT organisations to optimise effectiveness then there needs to be clear alignment with the business. But despite all that has gone on before, Business & IT Alignment is top of the list of priorities for...  READ MORE

Price: Free

  • Course:SEM-BRM
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Aligning IT with the Business

Summary

For years, it has been generally accepted across the IT industry that in order for IT organisations to optimise effectiveness then there needs to be clear alignment with the business. But despite all that has gone on before, Business & IT Alignment is top of the list of priorities for today’s CIO. A clear sign that there is still a long way to go here.

Business Relationship Management is a key role in bridging this gap as the interface between the business and IT but is often over-looked, under-valued and poorly defined.

In this highly interactive seminar, we will explore Business & IT Alignment and specifically pick out the following:

  • Creating Business Value through IT
  • Developing an “outside-in” Customer focus
  • Understanding how to practically apply best practice such as BRM (Business Relationship management) to realize a sustainable change in attitude, behaviour and culture in both the business & IT
  • Transforming ITSM and ITIL into a strategic capability
  • Aligning IT and business decision making
  • Improving end-to-end collaboration and communication

Paul Wilkinson of GamingWorks will run a demo of the exciting business simulation Grab@Pizza™ which demonstrates to the participants how to become a high-performance IT organisation.


Ian MacDonald of Sysop will look at IT Service Provision through the eye of the customer and compare “Inside-out” and “Outside-in” approaches to ITSM strategy.


We will also explore the good work of the BRM Institute and outline the benefits of professional certification via the Business Relationship Management Professional qualification.

Demand for this event is expected to be high. Consequently availability is restricted to two attendees per organisation.

Cancellations giving less than 14 days notice will incur a £95 cancellation charge.

Sorry, but we will not accept bookings from private email addresses.
 

Agenda

9:30-10:00: Registration

10:00-10:20: Welcome & Introduction

10:20-11:10: Business & IT Alignment Business Simulation - "Grab@Pizza" (Paul Wilkinson)

11:10-11:30: BREAK

11:30-12:30: Grab@Pizza - Round 1 (Paul Wilkinson)

12:30-1:15: LUNCH

1:15-2:00 Thinking from the "Outside In" (Ian MacDonald)

2:00-2:30: Business Relationship Management certification (TBC)

2:30-2:45: BREAK

2:45-4:15: Grab@Pizza - Round 2 (Paul Wilkinson)

4:15-4:30pm: Wrap up & Close

Grab@Pizza

Grab@Pizza - Business & IT Alignment Business Simulation

This Business Simulation will teach the participants how to become a
High Performance IT department. The team(s) will be faced with the
need to align their IT capabilities to changing business needs, reflecting
the challenges facing many IT organizations.

  1. How to deliver agreed IT Services with limited resources. Limited interms of budget and employees.
  2. How to minimize your IT costs by optimizing ITSM people, processesand supporting technology.
  3. How to use your Supplier effectively.
  4. How to prioritize IT investments and workload, in terms of Maintenance& Support and Innovation & Development.
  5. How to translate Business Requirements into the required IT Services.
  6. How to plan application development activities, prioritize the projects/changes planned on the Change Calendar.
  7. How to minimize potential business risks threats to continuity causedby poor availability, capacity and security of the IT services.
  8. How to realize and demonstrate business value.

This Business Simulation will teach the group how to deploy the People,
Process, Product and Partner capabilities to create a High Performing
IT department.

 

Thinking from the ‘Outside In’

Looking at your IT service provision ‘through the eyes of the customer’

The commercial success of the IT service provider is based on its ability to provide customers with affordable, high quality IT services that provide good value for money.

The paradox is that the provision of affordable, high quality IT services may not be perceived as providing value and value for money by the customer if their service expectations have not been satisfied and their perceptions of the IT service provider have not been positively influenced.

Where customers don’t recognise the value provided then you become a cost which is a precarious position to be in.

The IT service management strategy needs to recognise that it needs a strategic approach that positively responds to the needs and expectations of their customers and provide the platform to ensure customers ‘see and feel’ the value and value for money provided.

In this session we consider the best strategic approach to achieve this.

Business strategists define two distinct approaches that organisations can take to shape their business strategy:-

  • An ‘Inside Out’ approach where ITSM strategy is to focus on processes, systems and tools with products and services designed and implemented taking account of its resources and how to provide these efficiently at optimal cost. (I would contend that typically this is the way most IT service providers act and behave)
  • An ‘Outside In’ approach where ITSM strategy requires the IT service provider to look at their IT services and how they support their customers as if ‘through the eyes of the customer’. This ensures the IT service provider acts and behaves in the best interest of their customers because they understand their customer’s expectations and what is important to them and their business.

This session will provide learning and guidance on:-

  • The concepts of value in all its forms
  • Customer expectations of the IT service provider (over and above meeting service commitments)
  • Understanding the strategic approaches of Inside Out vs Outside In
  • The benefits of taking a balanced approach to In shaping your ITSM strategy
  • Defining an ‘Outside In’ strategy framework
  • Practical guidance on how to implement an ‘Outside In’ approach within ITSM

 

Dates For Aligning IT with the Business

Dates for this course are available on request. Please Contact us for details.

Availability and pricing for Aligning IT with the Business:

Dates for this course are available on request. Please Contact us for details.