Five Sets of Best Practices to Optimize Your IT Department

Often, gaining technical expertise is top-of-mind when considering training, and the best practices of project management and improved processes get neglected. IT departments are challenged to create and continuously improve processes that provide highly efficient services with more business value. This is where utilizing ITIL, CBAP, PMP, Six Sigma and ITMLP/ ITMLE best practices is beneficial.

The goals are simple to state, but more complex to deliver, which is why these best practice systems are so important:

·  Reduce costs to deliver, but improve value of service.

·  Improve customer satisfaction while remaining aligned to your businesses’ needs.

·  Offer balanced and flexible service while increasing productivity.

·  Have services well-designed for current needs, but adaptable to future changes.

In a survey by Iron Mountain 5,500 companies, results reveal that most participating companies are not satisfied with how their core processes run, even though they have formal programs for how they should be managing information. 90% of respondents consider process efficiency imperative to the business goals and overall success of their organization, but 93% were dissatisfied with their business-support processes and are actively trying to improve them.

Five Components of an Efficient IT Department: ITIL, Business Analysis,
Project Management, Six Sigma and IT Management

Many organizations understand the value of each component in improving the quality of IT services. Each approach, although distinctly different and used independently of each other, all employ a system of best practices to optimize business processes.

Information Technology Infrastructure Library® (ITIL ®) focuses on framework and best practices of IT service management to provide organizations a comprehensive set of guidelines for IT.

Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) focuses on identifying and analyzing business systems and problems provide organizations a comprehensive set of best practices and guidelines for IT. A CBAP identifies the business needs of clients and stakeholders to determine solutions to problems. They are responsible for requirements development and management and act as a bridge between the client, stakeholders and the solution team.

Project Management Professionals (PMP ®) focus on executing tasks and producing deliverables to accomplish the stated project objectives of an organization. PMPs are responsible for communication, including status reporting, risk management, escalation of issues that cannot be resolved in the team, and, making sure the project is delivered in budget, on schedule, and within scope.

Six Sigma evaluates which processes are important to a business, and continuously measures and improves the processes. Six Sigma professionals drive quality improvement while reducing operating costs by improving the consistency of processes. Lean Six Sigma is the rigorous and relentless reduction of waste (Lean) and variation (Six Sigma) in the critical processes of an organization that impact revenues and costs, as well as stakeholder satisfaction. It can be applied both to services and manufacturing industries to reduce defects, overproduction, wait time, inventory, processing and more.

Information Technology Management & Leadership Certifications (ITMLP© & ITMLE©) focus on strategic and tactical best practices for IT management and leadership and maximizes IT management bench strength, employee retention and organizational productivity. The ITMLP and more advanced ITMLE certifications offer a rigorous, down-to-earth, and practical courses of study that provide IT managers with the well-balanced foundation needed to provide superior competitive IT advantages.

For a limited time, NHSoCal is offering a Buy Two classes full price and get One Free. Eligible courses include selected PMP, ITIL, Six Sigma, CBAP, and IT Management. *See Full Terms and Conditions Here. Courses must be purchased by September 30, 2015; delivery must take place by November 30, 2015. Not to be combined with any other offer.

If you have any questions about implementing these practices to streamline your IT department for maximum efficiency, or to determine the best training solutions for your team, please contact New Horizons of Southern California.