Resource Library

In the last two posts I discussed aspects of services in the context of some landscaping work that I’m having done. This is clearly what many people would call a “non-IT example.” I often use similar examples in my classes. However, I might initially describe an example that seems unrelated to IT, but will conclude with a challenge to students. That challenge is, “identify the IT in this example.” The truth of the matter is that most businesses these days are underpinned by some form of information technology. In fact, technology has become so ingrained into everyday services that often even the service providers themselves don’t realize how technology supports their business.

I recently responded to a message on LinkedIn from a regular reader of this blog. He asked several questions which I will answer over the course of several posts. As part of his first question, he described a strategy report that his group is producing. The audience for this strategy report considers ITIL important to the future of their business, and so he must describe which ITIL processes his data center operations group works most closely with.

Traditionally, ITIL and TOGAF professionals have been part of different teams within an organization. Due to the ongoing alignment of business and IT, these professionals now often find themselves on the same team. Because of this crossover, there is a growing trend towards organization of work based on multiple best practice models. 

Successful transformation initiatives are driven by Business Architecture. The Business Architect plays a key role in bringing all of the portfolio components together and consistently reinforcing senior management's voice throughout the ADM lifecycle. This begins with establishing strategic goals and outcomes that set the context for the entire program and service transformation. Establishing context serves as the basis for strategic project portfolio definition and integrated execution. This approach mitigates the risk of executing projects in isolation without considering the needs of the entire portfolio as a whole. This session will boost your knowledge of these concepts and help you and your team to achieve the best possible outcomes for your organization.

Communication in our work and personal life has been dramatically transformed, not only by technology, but also by new practices and habits. At the same time, numerous studies show that communication is one of the top critical skills required to be successful. In fact, because of the way organizations and jobs are evolving, the importance of communication keeps increasing for professionals and leaders. This hour-long complimentary webinar is not about how to maximize your LinkedIn contacts or attract more Twitter followers. Jocelyn Bérard is a psychologist specializing in human performance and will share innovative ways to influence others through communication. He will also help you raise your knowledge and awareness about your personality traits and personal characteristics, how they impact communication and how to use them effectively.The digital age is here and you can't control it. But you can certainly improve and better use the human side of your communication.

In this hour-long webinar, IT service management expert Nasser El-Batal will introduce you to the TOGAF framework. You will learn about its business benefits, critical factors for implementation success, and TOGAF's relationship to and integration with other best practices.

Business processes are complicated, and mapping them is not a trivial task. Modelling standards give us the tools to model complex processes, but they do not tell us the best way to approach a model or effectively use the tool. In this hour-long webinar, Global Knowledge instructor Rod Fage will guide you through the best way to develop a model, from determining the goal and scope of the process and measuring its effectiveness, to modelling the process in a hierarchical top-down approach, enabling business analyst to continuously validate the model.

The Toronto Chapter of the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP), in partnership with Global Knowledge, welcomes Kelly Norgate to share information about her success in leading change with powerful change communication strategies. In this hour-long webinar, Norgate will examine the link between creative change communication solutions and great corporate culture. You will learn practical change communications strategies and tactics that generate the energy and commitment required to get employees on board with transformational change. Take your next change communication plan from good – to great.

If you want to stay relevant as an IT professional, you have two choices: evolve your current skills or make a big change.

To help you stay ahead of the game, here are ten IT skills that are on the brink of extinction.