What does it take to become Agile? 

One of the key difficulties when we talk about ‘agile’ is that this is a very broad and general term and it means different things to different people. There are usually 2 common interpretations of agile:

1. Flexible, responsive to customer needs, early to market with products that customers actually want;
2. Internal capability, skills and commitment to implementing change constantly, allowing the business model to evolve to meet the needs of a fast-changing market place.

These perceptions share a positivity about ‘agile’, it is clearly perceived as a good thing. At the same time, this highlights that there are different interpretations of what Agile means, different ideas about how to adopt it and therefore different methods and frameworks that could be chosen.

Here we describe 2 of the most known names in the Agile world, Agile Project Management and Scrum:

AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Agile Project Management (AgilePM®) is an innovative approach to project management and an actual Project Management method. It helps people work effectively together to achieve business goals. This guidance provides the ability to deliver Agile Projects in organizations requiring standards, rigour and visibility around Project Management, while at the same time enabling the fast pace, change and empowerment provided by Agile.

Agile Project Management is the result of the collaboration between APMG International and the DSDM Consortium.

Key Facts:

• 60.000 certifications (globally since 2011)
• 2 certification levels: AgilePM Foundation and AgilePM Practitioner
• Courses available in Brussels and Anwterp
• Course and exam language: English

SCRUM

Scrum is an Agile framework for completing complex projects. Scrum method originally was formalized for software development projects, but it works well for any complex, innovative scope of work.

Key Facts:

• 368.000 certifications (Scrum Alliance data)
• 3 certification levels: Certified Scrum Master, Certified Scrum Product Owner, Certified Scrum Developer
• Courses available in Brussels, Gent and Anwterp
• Course and exam language: English and French

WANT TO KNOW MORE ON THESE AGILE METHODS?

We can help you identify the right Agile method for you and your organization: use this form to get in touch!

AXELOS is delighted to announce that from 1 January 2018, all new ITIL Foundation certificates will include one year’s subscription to ITIL Membership. As Axelos announces: "Following feedback from ATOs and end learners, we are reinforcing the importance of, and our commitment to, professional development. Professional development is core to our businesses and we would like to work closer with our training partners to use Membership as a platform to enhance their wider offering." What is included in the ITIL Membership? ITIL Membership includes toolkits, templates, white papers as well as guidance to support an end learner working through the portfolio. How can you claim their ITIL Membership subscription? Every candidate that earns a new ITIL Foundation certificate from 1 January 2018 will be contacted by AXELOS to activate their subscription. Candidates will be invited to claim a digital badge that links to their ITIL Foundation certification. Want to know more? Get in touch using this form should you have any questions.

Developed by QRP in-house experts, our fully accredited PRINCE2 Foundation e-learning has been taken from the official PRINCE2 2017 syllabus and made into an interactive and exclusive online training solution in order to prepare you for the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, and even more.  Don’t miss out our special offer, get 10% off your PRINCE2 Elearning Foundation. Managing Director of QRP Jacobus Groot explains,"The world is going digital and so is QRP. As one of the first ATOs we made a transition to fully online examinations in all cases and it did not stop here. The launch of this new e-learning Package is the start of a new era for QRP as we now offer complete e-learning solutions without any paper involved. QRP strives to be a leader in flexible learning solutions for all. Developing professionals to facilitate change: less paper, less travel , more interaction, more sustainability. With this development we are pleased to get the digitalisation support a more sustainable planet too. I can't wait to launch the various local language versions as soon as the new translated manuals are out! This way we can bring learning to even more countries in the World."

What’s in it?

The e-learning is broken into 20 bite sized lessons which include videos, quizzes and a collection of interactive readings that provide more in-depth detail on the PRINCE2 method. In order to create knowledge retention we have included the Q-Trainer functionality - it is a tool that repeats questions in such a way that the knowledge will be stored in your long-term memory. All those items combined with the 2 PRINCE2 Foundation exams simulator and the online tutor support ensure that you gain the required level of knowledge to obtain the PRINCE2 Foundation Certification.

Test your knowledge all along your training

With an ever growing database of test questions and 2 complete PRINCE2 Foundation mock exams, you are assured all aspect will be covered and all subjects continuously tested against your knowledge to ensure the best possible preparation towards sitting the official PRINCE2 Foundation exam.

Interactivity

Our experienced PRINCE2 experts explain the method through a wide range of video, interactive readings and practice exam questions, which will help you to not only know PRINCE2 and obtain the PRINCE2 Foundation certification, but also apply it for your projects. The course has been designed to ensure that it provides an interactive and engaging explanation of the PRINCE2 method.

Anytime, anywhere… any device

You can access the PRINCE2 online course from all types of devices (laptops, smartphones or tablets), wherever you want and whenever you want, and without having to take time off work. So you can learn at a pace that suits you, at home, at work or on the go!

Online Exam included

The PRINCE2 Foundation exam will take place online thanks to the remote ProctorU technology which gives you the freedom to take your exams at a time and location convenient for you, using a webcam and a reliable high-speed connection.

Enjoy a 10% discount in March

For a limited time only, buy the new PRINCE2 Foundation Elearning and receive a 10% discount on your package. Hurry up! This offer is valid until the 15th of March 2018 only. Buy now! Learn more about the PRINCE2 Foundation Elearning course Buy now your PRINCE2 Foundation Elearning Package Got questions? Contact us and we’ll help you choose the perfect training solution to suit your needs

A big news was released few days ago by Axelos Global Best Practice: "Following the successful update of PRINCE2 in English, AXELOS is delighted to announce the schedule for translation of the PRINCE2 2017 updated manual and the supporting Foundation and Practitioner examinations. The first languages to become available will be German, Dutch, Polish, Danish, French and Norwegian." For our Lux audience, this news is especially relevant as it specifically indicates the launch date of the translated PRINCE2 manual and official Foundation and Practitioner exams in French. "The translation, taken from the  second impression of the new manual will be accompanied with the supporting examination questions that have become available after a recently completed standard review of the latest questions. This is to ensure that the translation into the languages is done from the highest possible quality of the source English material." FIRST FRENCH PRINCE2 2017 COURSES AVAILABLE:

• 12-13-14-15-16 November, Luxembourg - REGISTER!

Want to have more info? Get in touch anytime! We're here to help!

Many professionals already ITIL Foundation certified struggle in the selection of the next step in the ITIL Intermediate certification path. What is the next step to improve your IT service management skills? With the info and the guide below we want to explain in easy words the ITIL certification path: the different options available, the credit system and the steps that will guide you to become ITIL Expert.

WHY CONTINUE YOUR TRAINING AFTER ITIL FOUNDATION?

While ITIL Foundation remains the core level, as it provides good preparation and insight into the relevant ITIL structure concepts in IT Service Management, the Intermediate Levels deepen specific concepts across the different phases or processes of the IT Service Management cycle. Furthermore, the ITIL Practitioner level is a practical guide on how to apply these concepts for a continuous improvement of services.

Depending on the needs of the candidates, their activities or their position, some specific Intermediate levels can improve professional skills and help them become more competitive.

WHAT ABOUT THE ITIL INTERMEDIATE LEVELS?

To start off it is very important to underline that all ITIL Intermediate certifications are available ONLY to ITIL Foundation certified professionals. In other words, ITIL Foundation certificate is the prerequisit in order to enter any intermediate level.

Secondly, the ITIL Intermediate levels are divided into two categories: Lifecycle Modules and Capability Modules.

The ITIL Intermediate Lifecycle Modules modules are relevant for professionals who have a role of manager or team leader that requires the management of different areas or works in different teams. All modules in this category are suitable for those who wish to focus on the processes and practices used as well as the service management skills to deliver quality service.

The ITIL Intermediate Lifecycle Modules are:

• Service Strategy (SS)
• Service Design (SD)
• Service Transition (ST)
• Service Operation (SO)
• Continual Service Improvement (CSI)

On the other hand, the ITIL Intermediate Capability Modules are relevant for professionals seeking specific knowledge in one or more process, with a focus on the day-to-day execution of ITIL practices and their interaction.

The ITIL Intermediate Capability Modules are:

• Operational Support and Analysis (OSA)
• Planning, Protection and Optimization (PPO)
• Release, Control and Validation (RCV)
• Service Offerings and Agreements (SOA)

Some professionals prefer to mix Service Lifecycle and Service Capability modules in order to combine managerial as well as technical knowledge.

To know more on IT Service Management career path follow this link: ITSM Career Path

ITIL INTERMEDIATE CREDIT SYSTEM: HOW DOES IT WORK?

Each of the ITIL Intermediate certification provides a certain amount of credits: this is the credit system which allows IT professional to reach the level of ITIL Expert (which requires 22 credits). 

1. First of all, ITIL Foundation provides 2 credits;
2. Secondly, as we've seen, candidates can choose between two separate Intermediate moduels, Lifecycle and Capability. Each of them has a number of modules: 5 modules for Lifecycle with 3 credits per module and 4 modules for Capability with 4 credits per level.
3. In addition to Intermediate levels, ITIL offers a practical module called ITIL Practitioner, which gives 3 credits. It can be taken after ITIL Foundation or after completing one of the Intermediate levels.
4. The access to ITIL MALC (Managing  Accross the Lifecycle), is obtained with a total of at least 17 credits, including 2 compulsory credits from the ITIL Foundation and 15 credits between Intermediate (Lifecyle & Capability) and Practitioner.
5. Once the ITIL MALC certification awards 5 credits, the title of ITIL Expert is issued!

To know more on IT Intermdiate credit system follow this link: ITIL Credit System

Source: Axelos

NEED EXTRA INFO?

Feel free to get in touch, we will ask our ITIL trainer to help you identify your next step!

Start the new year with the right knowledge! If you missed out on the five articles below, we give you another chance to download and learn! These are the top 5 most visited and downloaded articles of 2017, enjoy your reading! 1. PRINCE2 for small scale projects: This article is an excellent review of the challenges people face when using PRINCE2 for smaller projects, together with very useful and practical recommendations on how to scale down the method without losing the essence of its principles. It explains explains the rationale for a ‘light-touch’ approach to the management of small projects based on PRINCE2. Since the launch of PRINCE2 in 1996 organizations have worked to embed the method and this introduction describes some of the outcomes. DOWNLOAD 2. PRINCE2 2017 Chapter 4 Tailoring and adopting PRINCE2: The fourth chapter of the official PRINCE2 2017 manual has the goal to show how to use the inherent flexibility of PRINCE2 to tailor it for any project and build an organizational PRINCE2-based project management method. This chapter includes situations that the project manager may encounter. The chapter also contains specific lists of tips that refer to how to ensure that the tailoring of the methods actually adds value, and illustrates 5 common situation where to tailor PRINCE2. DOWNLOAD 3. Five Ways PRINCE2 can be Agile: AGILE practices started in the 1990 : working groups of experts edited the “AGILE Manifesto” followed quickly by the launch of the “AGILE alliance”. At present, there are about 13 agile approaches used in project management. We asked our expert trainer and consultant Antoine Breton IF and HOW PRINCE2 can be tailored and applied to the so called “Agile Projects”. In this article, he shows 5 PRINCE2  elements that can actually give Agility to your projects. DOWNLOAD 4. What’s the future for Project Management? This article from QRP International has the goal to explain what’s the general status within Project Management world, and how the changes in this environment have helped raise the need for an updated version to PRINCE2. By analyzing the latest report in Project Management, the “The Future Project Management Professional” from Axelos, the article examines the 4 main aspects of change for the profession of Project Manager, and highlights how these changes have a great impact on a well-known and internationally recognized certification like PRINCE2. DOWNLOAD 5. PMO Definitions Challenges Solutions: This is a KEY document for anyone embarking in a PMO challenge. As project management has become accepted as a mainstream management discipline, many organisations have established a PMO (Portfolio, Programme or Project Management Office) function to increase the maturity of their project management approach. This paper describes the community of stakeholders that benefit from the existence of a PMO, the services that are most important to them, the key challenges that PMOs are facing and the ideas that are helping to meet these challenges. DOWNLOAD PRINCE2 2017 Process Map Not an article, but still in the TOP 10 of most downloaded item from our Knowledge Center is definitely the updated PRINCE2 Process Map to 2017 version: a graphical ‘at a glance‘ representation of all the PRINCE2 processes and how they fit together and it shows all the processes involved in running a PRINCE2 project from start to finish. This version of the Process Map is the renewed and updated one according to the new 2017 version of the PRINCE2 method. A key document for all project managers that want to run a project following the recommended steps. DOWNLOAD REMAIN UP-TO-DATE Register to our newsletter to receive new content directly in our inbox!