Management Skills for an IT Environment

What is this course about?

In this course, you learn how to build an empowered and motivated team of technical professionals, harness the power of individuals, and create a proactive, customer-focused and results-oriented culture. In this immersive four-day course, you build a blueprint for personal success using proven management models.

Who will benefit from this course?

The course benefits:

• People who have been promoted to lead a project or team of IT professionals
• Those who are expecting or planning to be promoted to an IT managerial position in the foreseeable future
• Established IT managers who want to refresh their tools and techniques

What kind of background do I need?

No special background is required. You need only have the desire to learn the skills that will make you a successful manager.

How does this course differ from Course 290, Management Skills?

Both Course 906, Management Skills for an IT Environment, and Course 290, Management Skills, focus on the fundamental skills, best practices and behaviours of effective managers. If you are managing technical people, you should take Course 906, Management Skills for an IT Environment. Otherwise, you should take Course 290, Management Skills. Due to the similarity of these courses, it is not appropriate to take both.

How does this course approach the topic of management?

Your natural managerial ability can be appreciably improved through formal training. This course teaches you what good management is and how to do it effectively. You learn the tasks of the two fundamental managerial roles:

• Administrative Manager: Setting objectives, delegating tasks, carrying out appraisals and running the day-to-day work of the team
• Leader: Building a vision for the team, motivating individual team members, communicating effectively and building the ability of the team to do an outstanding job

How is this course structured?

This course is structured around a dynamic style of learning created by Learning Tree called RealityPlus^TM -- an immersive experience that engages you in authentic tasks within a simulated real-world context. Through media-rich case studies, role playing, videos and hands-on activities, you are immersed throughout the course in a scenario where the decisions you make affect the outcome of the simulation. The RealityPlus learning method is presented in a safe environment where you gain new skills and practise the most effective techniques to bring back to your job. At the end of your course, you are prepared to apply these new skills immediately and successfully within your organisation.

In fact, the videos used in this RealityPlus course have been awarded the coveted 2009 Telly Award, Corporate Training category. The award was presented in Los Angeles on June 24, 2009.

The Telly Awards honour the very best in local, regional and cable television programmes, commercials, video and film productions. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators and corporate video departments in the world.

Learning Tree is very proud that the videos created for this course have been awarded this honour. The videos are used in the course to help simulate concepts covered throughout the course material and serve to help you improve your management skills.

How does emotional intelligence apply to management?

In order to develop self awareness and self responsibility in others, managers must demonstrate these qualities themselves. The emotional intelligence model focuses on key building blocks that enable managers to deal productively with a broad range of individuals and challenging situations.

I prefer to do things on my own. Why should I delegate?

An effective manager uses delegation as a tool to empower and encourage others. Through effective delegation, you continually increase the capability of your team, demonstrated through the team's ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively. This ultimately results in increased revenue, cost savings and a satisfied customer base.

I have an underperforming employee. Can I really motivate him/her?

Yes. By understanding your employee's individuality, skills, strengths and personal values, it is possible to develop customised motivational strategies. These can be used to maintain the motivation of employees who are on target or redirect the efforts of the employee whose performance goes off track.

How much time is spent on each topic?

What kinds of activities are included?

Approximately 65 percent of the course is spent on group and individual activities. In the group activities, you develop skills in team building, problem solving and delegation. In individual sessions, you analyse problems and identify solutions to management challenges. Activities focus on the following topics: Mapping stakeholder interdependencies, defining the manager's job, creating a vision, maintaining customer focus, teambuilding, managing delegation and planning your new role as a manager.

Is this course applicable toward a Project Management Institute (PMI) certification?

Yes. Though this course is not designed as preparation for an exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward, or maintaining, a PMI certification. Most PMI certifications require a specific number of PDUs in order to obtain and maintain the credential. Completion of this course provides 23 professional development units (PDUs).

Learning Tree offers several courses that help you prepare for PMI certifications, including Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam, which prepares you for PMI's most popular certification. For more details on these courses and PMI certifications, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

Learning Tree offers a number of courses in management, communication and planning:

• 224, The Art of Coaching: Enabling Employees to Achieve Their Potentialoffers the skills to apply coaching techniques to unlock employee potential
• 294, Influence Skills: Getting Results without Direct Authorityfocuses on the specific behaviours and attitudes that enable you to achieve desired results without relying on the use of authority
• 904, Responding to Conflict: Creating Resolution and Cooperationoffers the skills to effectively handle conflict and apply proven techniques to build an environment of cooperation
• 905, Facilitation Skillsprovides the skills to facilitate goal-oriented results through planning, collaboration and consensus
• 284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solvingprovides the skills to leverage your personal thinking preferences using tools and techniques based on cutting-edge technologies

The following courses may also be of interest:

• 246, Managing Information Overload: Techniques for Working Smarter
• 247, MBA Essentials: Enhancing Organisational Performance
• 340, Project Management for Software Development
• 296, Project Management: Skills for Success
• 346, Project Leadership: Building High-Performance Teams
• 286, Project Risk Management
• 275, Leading Virtual and Remote Teams

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