Course details

Overview ?

Overview

Introduction

This seminar is designed to provide IT leaders and professionals with a set of transformational tools and techniques to help them maximise their own and their team’s creative potential. The starting-point for this seminar is self-discovery; participants will work on the inside first and then focus outwards onto the world of business.

The initial focus of the seminar will be:

Preparation to move out of your comfort zone and experiment with new ways of creating and communicating an inspiring leadership vision.
To define IT strategy and set out techniques for leading an agile IT organisation that is customer-centric, makes good strategic management and technical decisions and leverages IT resources effectively.
The emphasis on the strategic importance of information services to the enterprise and their contribution as a critical partner in meeting business goals.
Identifying opportunities for new kinds of thinking and learning to challenge the givens without breaking the bonds
How to improve your negotiation skills and overcome departmental and organisational obstacles to success

The seminar is split into two modules:

MODULE I - Leading Creatively

MODULE II - Strategic IT Leadership

Each module is structured and can be taken as a stand-alone course; however, delegates will maximise their benefits by taking Module 1 and 2 back-to-back as a two-week seminar.

Objectives

By the end of this programme you will be able to:

Set out their personal leadership brand
Demonstrate innovative methods for harnessing others’ creative potential
Articulate a vision using multiple sensory representations
Communicate their vision in refreshing and engaging ways
Identify critical components of a strategically-aligned IT department
Apply value and performance measurement techniques
Develop meaningful recruitment and retention policies
Evaluate technology solutions, vendor selection and outsourcing

Training Methodology

This seminar will not rely on a series of lectures to tell you what you should be doing. Instead it uses a range of approaches to learning, including experiential group activities, individual visioning exercises and syndicate discussions, to allow you to see and feel for yourself the power of the creative mind. Formal inputs are used to introduce a limited amount of underpinning theory. A key part of the learning process is sharing the differing experiences participants bring, as well as experimenting with novel – and sometimes challenging – techniques.

Organisational Impact

Leaders at all levels who can develop and communicate a shared vision are better able to engage and motivate their teams and can focus on longer-term organisational and customer needs.
IT professionals who can align IT and corporate strategy are better able to demonstrate the return on investment of their function.
Delegates develop and implement visionary, innovative and effective IT strategies that support the corporate vision and contribute demonstrably to its success.
Focus on long-term organisational and customer needs
Increased effectiveness against personal KPI’s through more effective use of team

Personal Impact

Participants will be challenged to explore and articulate a personal vision of the future based on aligned and coherent values within and beyond the boundaries of their professional sphere.
Clear sense of personal and professional vision of the future
Aligned and coherent personal values
Stronger personal self-confidence levels
Opportunities for networking and sharing ideas will provide a further catalyst to personal growth.

SEMINAR OUTLINE

Module I

Leading Creatively

Creative Problem-Solving

Leadership Reality Assessment
Leadership Vs Management
Understanding Our Brain Function
Myths of Creativity
The limitations of the rational
Divergent approaches to problem-solving
Letting go of logic
Analogous thinking modes
Convergent and divergent modes

Overcoming Personal Blockers to Creativity

Sigmoid Curve - Lifecycle Model
Continuous Improvement
Breakthrough step change
Self-awareness and the nature of the ego
Personal goal alignment
Adaption and innovation: personal preferences for creating meaning
Exploring attitudes to risk
Left- and right-brain thinking

Developing the Vision Creatively

Six thinking hats
Using differing thinking styles
JoHari’s window
The business plan process & creating a vision
Harnessing the power of the team
Organisational culture and its influence on innovation
Letting go of the ego
Working with different creative preferences

Communicating the Vision Creatively

The 7 Step Creative Process
Models of communication
Viral visioning
Authenticity and trust
Creativity tools, techniques & strategy
Letting go of the vision
Leading without directing
Possible leadership beliefs

From Ideas to Action: Creativity and Change

Motivation - Hierarchy of Needs
Overcoming organisational barriers to creativity and change
Nurturing a learning environment
Is Money a motivator?
Personality Profiling
Building a creative consensus
Engaging stakeholders creatively
Influencing and motivating through change

Module II

Strategic IT Leadership

Leading and Managing the IT Department

Understand the challenges of the IT manager
How to value IT services
Communicate IT value to upper management, peers and end-users.
Understand the responsibilities of the IT team leader.

Managing Technology

Understand the Strategy for Managing Existing Technology
Know when to develop and adopt New Technologies
Be Aware of how to manage assets effectively.

Using Influence

Understand the different types of influential power.
Be aware of the various influence strategies
Select the most effective influence strategy for the situation
Understanding negotiations, tactics and techniques.
Use influence effectively to thrive as an IT manager

Strategic Decision Making

Apply strategic decision making
Recognizing strategic decisions and initiatives.
Apply strategic decision making to vendor selection
Understand when to outsource

Developing the IT Strategic Plan and Budget

Using the mission as an IT driver
Defining the customer profile
understanding the partnership model
Creating a strategic plan
Planning and budgeting issues

Managing IT Quality

Understanding the importance of managing by process
Understand the definitions of quality
Applying maturity models
Using process management
Applying international standards

Building the IT Management Team

Evaluating IT performance and metrics
Understanding delegation and motivation
Team building
Managing the management team and stakeholders.

IT Project Management

The Importance of Project Management
Defining Project Manager talents and skills
Understanding the principles of Project Management

IT Performance Metrics

Developing a measurement strategy
Creating a “Best Practices” based organization
Deploy metrics
Managing by facts and results
Integrate metrics into the strategic plan

Common Pitfalls and Lessons Learned

Balancing technical and corporate requirements
Balancing tactical and strategic decisions
Evaluating new and existing technologies
Balancing management styles and culture.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Training Methodology

Creative Strategic IT Leadership

Course details

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