33 Business Case Development courses in Cardiff delivered Live Online

Duration 5 Days 30 CPD hours This course is intended for This course is designed for business analysts. Overview After completing this course, you should be able to:Describe the benefits of implementing an Operational Decision Manager solution, and the collaboration that is required between the business and development teamsIdentify the main user roles that are involved in designing and developing an Operational Decision Manager solution, and the tasks that are associated with each roleExplain modeling concepts and the UML notation that is relevant to modeling for business rules and eventsDefine and implement object models for business rulesSet up the rule authoring environment in Designer by working with decision services and synchronizing across development and business environmentsCustomize the vocabulary that is used in rulesDiscover and analyze business rules for implementationUse the Operational Decision Manager rule editors to author business rules and decision tablesRun tests and simulations in the Decision Center Enterprise console to validate decision logic and rule changesExplain governance issues and work with Operational Decision Manager features that support decision governance This course introduces business analysts to IBM Operational Decision Manager V8.7.1. You learn the concepts and skills that are necessary to capture, author, validate, and manage business rules with Operational Decision Manager. Course Outline Course introduction Introducing IBM Operational Decision Manager V8.7.1 Exercise: Operational Decision Manager in action Modeling for business rules Exercise: Building the model on paper Exercise: Implementing the model Understanding decision services Exercise: Setting up a decision service Working with the BOM Exercise: Working with the BOM Introducing Decision Center Exercise: Exploring the Decision Center Business console Exercise: Exploring the Decision Center Enterprise console Introducing rule authoring Exercise: Understanding the case study Discovering and analyzing rules Exercise: Discovering rules Exercise: Analyzing rules Working with conditions in rules Exercise: Working with conditions in rules Working with definitions in rules Exercise: Working with definitions in rules Writing complete rules Exercise: Writing complete rules Authoring decision tables and trees Exercise: Authoring decision tables and trees Exercise: Authoring rules: Putting it all together Running tests and simulations in the Enterprise console Exercise: Running tests and simulations in the Enterprise console Introducing decision governance Exercise: Working with the decision governance framework Course summary

Duration 2 Days 12 CPD hours This course is intended for The course is designed for individuals who want to gain in-depth knowledge and practice in the discipline of Business Analysis (Business Analysts, Requirements Engineers, Product manager, Product Owner, Chief Product Owner, Service Manager, Service Owner, Project manager, Consultants) Overview Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding and application of Business Analysis principles and techniques. Key areas are: The breath of the role of a Business Analyst The processes and techniques of strategy analysis Investigation of an organization's business systems Techniques used within stakeholder analysis and the need for analyzing perspectives Conceptual modelling and business activity models Business improvements through gap analysis The Business case within the business change lifecycle The Business Analyst role analyzes, understands and manages the requirements in a customer-supplier relationship and ensures that the right products are delivered.The course provides in-depth knowledge and practice in Business Analysis Course Introduction Let?s Get to Know Each Other Course Overview Course Learning Objectives Course Structure Course Agenda Introduction to Business Analysis Practice Exam Details Business Analysis Certification Scheme Rationale for Business Analysis The role of the BA throughout the stages of the Business change lifecycle The scope of the BA role within the context of the range of analysis activities Three areas of competencies Understanding the Strategic Context Techniques in practice: MOST Resource audit PESTLE Porter's Five Forces SWOT analysis CSF, KPI and Performance target Balanced Business Score Card Understanding the Current Situation Identification of stakeholder categories Identification of relevant investigation techniques The rationale for taking a holistic view Rich pictures, Mind Maps and Fishbone diagrams Stakeholder Analysis and Management Power/interest and level of interest Appropriate stakeholder management strategy Stakeholder perspectives and CATWOE technique Analysing and Modelling Business Activities Conceptual models of a business situation Five types of high level activity Planning activities Enabling activities Doing activities Monitoring and control activities Three types of business events The consensus business activity model Identifying Potential Solutions Different categories of business rules Gap analysis (through conceptual business activity model and as-is business situation) Components of a new business model Building the Business Case Rationale for the development of a business case Contents of a business case Identification of tangible/intangible costs and benefits, risks and impacts Rationale for the financial case and appraisal techniques Business case review in the business change lifecycle Additional course details: Nexus Humans Business Analysis - Practice training program is a workshop that presents an invigorating mix of sessions, lessons, and masterclasses meticulously crafted to propel your learning expedition forward. This immersive bootcamp-style experience boasts interactive lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative hackathons, all strategically designed to fortify fundamental concepts. Guided by seasoned coaches, each session offers priceless insights and practical skills crucial for honing your expertise. Whether you're stepping into the realm of professional skills or a seasoned professional, this comprehensive course ensures you're equipped with the knowledge and prowess necessary for success. While we feel this is the best course for the Business Analysis - Practice course and one of our Top 10 we encourage you to read the course outline to make sure it is the right content for you. Additionally, private sessions, closed classes or dedicated events are available both live online and at our training centres in Dublin and London, as well as at your offices anywhere in the UK, Ireland or across EMEA.

Duration 2 Days 12 CPD hours This course is intended for This course has been expressly designed for the Business Analyst, Business System Analyst, System Analyst, and/or Requirements Engineer. The Designer, Developer and Tester who are actively involved in utilizing use cases may also benefit from this workshop. Overview Employ use cases to elicit requirements, at a business, system or subsystem levelEmploy use cases to document the scope of a projectWrite use cases in a clear and unambiguous way.Model use cases with workflow diagramsPlan and divide up the project work based on your use casesManage a use case as it evolves over time and goes through many changes This course provides a strong foundation in the mechanics of use case diagramming and writing textual descriptions of use cases. In this highly interactive workshop, you will learn how to enhance and refine your use case skills, how to involve your stakeholders in the use case process, and how to develop use cases that provide valuable information to the designers and testers. Use cases that meet the needs of designers can be too technical and too detailed for other stakeholders. Use cases that satisfy business users are usually not very helpful to designers and testers. How do you satisfy these two disparate interests? And how do you handle the details like business rules, data validations and user interface specifications? Introduction Course objectives Understanding of business analysis Knowledge areas of BABOK© Guide Overview of Use Cases Describe the purpose and value of a use case approach Use case terminology Introducing a use case approach Needs Assessment Purpose of Needs Assessment Needs Assessment and use cases Defining and understanding the strategic goals and objectives Understanding the business process Identifying actors Identifying business information Analyzing locations and operations Drawing the business use case diagram Building the business architecture Defining solution options Defining System Scope Product scope/project scope System actors versus business actors Analyzing the business process model Analyzing business use cases Identifying candidate use cases Identifying scenarios Diagramming use cases Draw a use case diagram Create a use case catalog Evaluating, Prioritizing, and Packaging Use Cases Iterative nature of this work Evaluating use cases Use case priority Use case risk Use case complexity Use case dependencies Evaluate and Prioritize use cases Dividing work up between releases Packaging A process for how to perform packaging Writing the Main Success Scenario Use case descriptions Primary and secondary goals Assumptions Pre-conditions Triggers Post-conditions Scenario example Main success scenario Conditional execution Use cases and requirements Best practices for writing a use case description Writing the Other Scenarios Scenarios and flows Alternate scenarios and flows Alternate vs. basic flow Guidelines for alternate flows Exception flows Failed post conditions Write alternate and exception flows Process Modeling to Describe Use Case Flows UML© Activity Diagram Notation Sequencing activities Developing an activity diagram Facilitated sessions Draw a UML© Activity Diagram Using Advanced Diagramming Techniques Commonality Dependency Relationships Identify relationships Comparing the different relationships Developing a Requirements Specification Requirements and use cases Detailed requirements Common approaches to specifications Non-functional requirements Write non-functional requirements User interface requirements UI data descriptions Business rules Decision tables and inference rules How to document simple calculations Reporting requirements Data requirements Data accessibility requirements Traceability Course Summary Wrap-up Finding more information Additional course details: Nexus Humans BA28 - Requirements Analysis and Use Cases training program is a workshop that presents an invigorating mix of sessions, lessons, and masterclasses meticulously crafted to propel your learning expedition forward. This immersive bootcamp-style experience boasts interactive lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative hackathons, all strategically designed to fortify fundamental concepts. Guided by seasoned coaches, each session offers priceless insights and practical skills crucial for honing your expertise. Whether you're stepping into the realm of professional skills or a seasoned professional, this comprehensive course ensures you're equipped with the knowledge and prowess necessary for success. While we feel this is the best course for the BA28 - Requirements Analysis and Use Cases course and one of our Top 10 we encourage you to read the course outline to make sure it is the right content for you. Additionally, private sessions, closed classes or dedicated events are available both live online and at our training centres in Dublin and London, as well as at your offices anywhere in the UK, Ireland or across EMEA.

Duration 2 Days 12 CPD hours This course is intended for The course is designed for individuals who want to gain in-depth knowledge and practice in the discipline of managing requirements (Business Analysts, Requirements Engineers, Product manager, Product Owner, Chief Product Owner, Service Manager, Service Owner, Project manager, Consultants) Overview Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding and application of Requirements Engineering principles and techniques. Key areas are: Requirements Engineering framework The hierarchy of requirements Key stakeholders in the framework Requirements elicitation Requirements modelling Requirements documentation Requirements analysis Requirements validation Requirements management The Business Analyst role analyzes, understands and manages the requirements in a customer-supplier relationship and ensures that the right products are delivered.The practical course provides in-depth knowledge and practice in Requirements Engineering. Course Introduction Let?s Get to Know Each Other Course Overview Course Learning Objectives Course Structure Course Agenda Introduction to Business Analysis Structure and Benefits of Business Analysis Foundation Exam Details Business Analysis Certification Scheme What is Business Analysis? Intent and Context Origins of business analysis The development of business analysis The scope of business analysis work Taking a holistic approach The role and responsibilities of the business analyst The competencies of a Business Analyst Personal qualities Business knowledge Professional techniques The development of competencies Strategy Analysis The context for strategy The definition of strategy Strategy development External environmental analysis Internal environmental analysis SWOT analysis Executing strategy Business Analysis Process Model An approach to problem solving Stages of the business analysis process model Objectives of the process model stages Procedures for each process model stage Techniques used within each process model stage Investigation Techniques Interviews Observation Workshops Scenarios Prototyping Quantitative approaches Documenting the current situation Stakeholder Analysis and Management Stakeholder categories and identification Analysing stakeholders Stakeholder management strategies Managing stakeholders Understanding stakeholder perspectives Business activity models Modelling Business Processes Organizational context An altrnative view of an organization The organizational view of business processes Value propositions Process models Analysing the as-is process model Improving business processes (to-be business process) Defining the Solution Gab analysis Introduction to Business Architecture Definition to Business Architecture Business Architecture techniques Business and Financial Case The business case in the project lifecycle Identifying options Assessing project feasibility Structure of a business case Investment appraisal Establishing the Requirements A framework for requirements engineering Actors in requirements engineering Requirements elicitation Requirements analysis Requirements validation Documenting and Managing the Requirements The requirements document The requirements catalogue Managing requirements Modelling the Requirements Modelling system functions Modelling system data Delivering the Requirements Delivering the solution Context Lifecycles Delivering the Business Solution BA role in the business change lifecycle Design stage Implementation stage Realization stage Additional course details: Nexus Humans Business Analysis - Requirements Engineering training program is a workshop that presents an invigorating mix of sessions, lessons, and masterclasses meticulously crafted to propel your learning expedition forward. This immersive bootcamp-style experience boasts interactive lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative hackathons, all strategically designed to fortify fundamental concepts. Guided by seasoned coaches, each session offers priceless insights and practical skills crucial for honing your expertise. Whether you're stepping into the realm of professional skills or a seasoned professional, this comprehensive course ensures you're equipped with the knowledge and prowess necessary for success. While we feel this is the best course for the Business Analysis - Requirements Engineering course and one of our Top 10 we encourage you to read the course outline to make sure it is the right content for you. Additionally, private sessions, closed classes or dedicated events are available both live online and at our training centres in Dublin and London, as well as at your offices anywhere in the UK, Ireland or across EMEA.

When managers have too many decisions to make, it can have a serious impact on the speed and efficiency of the organisation. When those decisions are commercial ones, the results can wreak havoc with the bottom line. Often the problem arises when those below them or in operational areas of the organisation aren't equipped or allowed to make a decision for themselves. Issues get passed back up and that wastes time. This programme provides a solution, giving your entire team the skills to: And most importantly, they'll be able to do this in line with the broader aims and commercial objectives of the business. By the end of the programme participants will be able to: Fully appreciate the importance of effective decision-making in business Use the five-step 'Stop, Think, Act!' decision-making process Stop leaping to conclusions Really understand the situations and decisions they are dealing with Identify good options Evaluate those options Make decisions and then put them into action Apply these tools and techniques to all their decisions in future 1 Understanding the business we work in What are the critical factors in our business? What is the SWOT analysis for our business? 2 Understanding what decision-making is 3 Background Culture of 'having to be doing' To change things we have to think about it! We are paid to make decisions! 4 Recognise the opportunity to make a decision 5 The 'Stop, Think, Act!' technique 6 STOP! Recognise the opportunity to make a decision Don't leap to conclusions Get ready to think Initial questions:Is this my decision? (Do I have the authority?)Who is this going to affect? (Do they need to be included?)When do I need to make the decision? (What's the timeline?) 7 THINK! The 3 Cs - making sure we understand the decisions we have to make What is the context of this decision?What is the overall situation?Why is this decision important?What do we need to achieve?What will success look like? Do I have clarity about the decision I need to make?Can I write it down?Can I express it clearly in two sentences? What are the criteria?What are the critical commercial factors that we will use to select our options?What will we use to measure the business success? 8 ACT! Identifying options What data do I need to collect?Issues with today's overloadIdentifying what will help you Select optionsHow many options?Must match your criteriaMust achieve success'Decision compass' exercise Analyse optionsTabular methodRisk analysis (likelihood v effect)Head, heart and gut (is there any organisational history/bias that we are up against?) Making your decision Taking it to actionFirst actionsPlanning how to make it happen

Software comes in a variety of guises - application software, firmware, middleware, system software. Increasingly, however, it doesn't necessarily present that way, especially as the boundaries between software, data and source code are becoming more and more blurred. And as software becomes more complex and more difficult to disentangle, so it becomes harder to manage and to value. But as it becomes more integral to every aspect of a business, so it is ever more important to keep on top of the technical, legal and commercial issues that arise, issues such as: To address these issues, organisations need a process for evaluating their current situation from all perspectives and for identifying the key actions they need to take to ensure holistic management of their software. This very practical programme will help set your organisation on the right path. Note: this is an indicative agenda, to be used as a starting point for a conversation between client and consultant, depending on the organisation's specific situation and requirements. This programme is designed to give you a deeper understanding of: The technical, legal and commercial risks associated with software development, procurement, use and commercial exploitation The most appropriate processes and responsibilities for managing those risks Note: this is an indicative agenda, to be used as a starting point for a conversation between client and consultant, depending on the organisation's specific situation and requirements. 1 Software business model What is the software business model? What options exist? Has the software business model been thoroughly reviewed to ensure its viability? This means fully understanding the market opportunity, the business environment and customer and end-user expectations. 2 Technology What are the technologies? How has the technology selection been validated considering the competitiveness, structure, and potential for future innovation? 3 UI and UX What is the UI and UX? How to best articulate this? Has the user interface and user experience been studied from both a subjective and objective view to give insight into customer behaviour? 4 Legal framework / commercial aspects Has the necessary legal framework or commercial aspects that may impact upon use or operation of the software been understood and risks identified and mitigated? 5 Software development What is the software development process? Are both the business management and development team's processes resilient in order to improve the company's capability and the maturity of the software? 6 Software quality What is quality? What are the metrics around software quality? What is the maturity level, based around a qualitative and quantitative assessment? 7 Intellectual property associated What IP should be considered when it comes to software? Does the company understand both the intellectual property risks and potential opportunities associated with this software? 8 Security What does software security mean in this context? How is it being addressed? 9 An holistic approach Review of roles and responsibilities to ensure appropriate management and protection

Duration 2 Days 12 CPD hours This course is intended for Executives, Project Managers, Business Analysts, Business and IT stakeholders working with analysts, Quality and process engineers, technicians, corrective action coordinators or managers; supervisors, team leaders, and process operators; anyone who wants to improve their ability to solve recurring problems. Overview At the completion of this course, you should be able to:Identify the different types of tools and techniques availableApply change management successfullyReview what to look for when applying business case thinking to Root Cause AnalysisDevelop a process to systematically approach problems Problem determination skills cannot be acquired by reading a book. They mostly come from experience. After this course, you will have a general understanding of a structured problem determination approach, which you can then apply in your daily work. RCA Foundation Concepts and Objectives Section Learning Objectives Discuss Definitions ? IT Perspective Discuss What is a problem and why do they exist? Exercise 1a: Why is RCA important What is Root Cause? RCA Benefits and Approaches Exercise 1b: Why are multiple approaches important? Event and Casual Analysis Exercise 1c: Apply Event and Causal Analysis Event and Causal Analysis: Exercise 1c Worksheet RCA Tools for each approach Exercise 1D: Prepare for Case Study Section Summary and Conclusions Enhance Use of RCA Tools Why use a Particular Method Tool: Change Analysis Change Analysis Examples Exercise 2a: Apply Change Analysis Exercise 2b: Change Analysis Worksheet Tool: How to Resolve Conflict Tool: 5 Why?s Example Learning Management Problem Exercise 2b: Apply 5 Why?s Sequence-of-Events Exercise 2b: Worksheet Tool: Cause and Effect Exercise 2c: Apply Cause and Effect Exercise 2c: Cause and Effect Worksheet Tool: Fault Tree Analysis Why do we use Fault Tree Analysis? How does it work? Fault Tree Diagram Symbols Example #1 of FTA: Car Hits Object Exercise 2D: Apply Fault Tree Analysis Tool: Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Example: Failure Modes and Effects Analysis Exercise 2E: Apply FMEA Tool: Design / Application Review Exercise 2d: Apply Design/Application Review Section summary & conclusions Problem Resolution & Prevention Section Objectives The Secret of Solving Problems A Note about Statistical Control A Note about Fire Fighting Technique: Business Process Mapping Example: IGOE Exercise 3A: Problem as IGOE Exercise 3A: IGOE Template Technique: Lean Six Sigma and DMAIC Lean Six Sigma Benefits Exercise 3B: Apply Lean Six Sigma Importance of Understanding the Business Process The Business Process Mandate Technique: Process Modeling Graphical Notation Standard (BPMN) What is Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)? Benefits of BPMN Basic Components of BPMN Exercise 3C: Use BPMN to Document a Current State Technique: Business Process Maturity Model Five Levels of Maturity Exercise 3D: Appraise Business Process Maturity Level Section Summary and Conclusions Capability Improvement for RCA Section Learning Objectives Steps in Disciplined Problem Solving RCA as a RCA Process Key RCA Role Considerations Exercise 4A: Apply RCA to RCA Process Sustainable RCA Improvement Organizational Units Process Area Goals, Practices Specific and General Practices Specific Practice Examples Software Maturity Survey Exercise 4B: Apply Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) to RCA SWOT Analysis Worksheet Recognize the importance of the Change Management component in your RCA implementation Using the ADKAR Model to Communicate Change Review ADKAR© Model ? Awareness of the need for change Desire to participate and support the change Knowledge on how to change Ability to implement required skills and behaviors Reinforcement to sustain the change Exercise 4C: Create an Ability Checklist The ADKAR Model: Reinforcement Exercise 4D: Find two examples of how ADKAR will be different Section Summary and Conclusions Course Summary & Conclusions Plan the Proposal and Business Case Example: 1 Page Business Case Exercise 5A: Creating Action Plans Resource Guide Questions Additional course details: Nexus Humans BA17 - Advanced Root Cause Analysis training program is a workshop that presents an invigorating mix of sessions, lessons, and masterclasses meticulously crafted to propel your learning expedition forward. This immersive bootcamp-style experience boasts interactive lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative hackathons, all strategically designed to fortify fundamental concepts. Guided by seasoned coaches, each session offers priceless insights and practical skills crucial for honing your expertise. Whether you're stepping into the realm of professional skills or a seasoned professional, this comprehensive course ensures you're equipped with the knowledge and prowess necessary for success. While we feel this is the best course for the BA17 - Advanced Root Cause Analysis course and one of our Top 10 we encourage you to read the course outline to make sure it is the right content for you. Additionally, private sessions, closed classes or dedicated events are available both live online and at our training centres in Dublin and London, as well as at your offices anywhere in the UK, Ireland or across EMEA.

Duration 1 Days 6 CPD hours This course is intended for This course is intended for solution architects, developers, business analysts, system administrators, or anyone who works as a solution builder within their company. Overview Build and deploy a solution Create properties and document classes Create roles and in-baskets Create a case type and tasks Create a workflow Use preconditions and sets Automate case packaging Add case stages Apply solution design principles In this course you will create basic case management solutions with IBM Case Manager Builder and Process Designer. Using an iterative solution development process, you will create, deploy, test, and revise your solutions, adding complexity and functionality to your solutions as you gain skills. You will create properties and document classes, configure roles and in-baskets, and define case stages. You will work with case types, tasks, and workflows. This course includes some guidelines on solution design principles. After completing this course, you can build on these skills by taking more advanced or specialized courses in security, user-interface customization, and solution deployment. Build and Deploy a Solution Build a solution Deploy a solution Test a solution Manage roles Redeploy a solution Create Properties and Document Classes Create case properties Create task properties Create a business object Create document classes Create Roles and In-Baskets Create roles Create in-baskets Create Tasks Create a to-do task Create a container task Add the to-do list widget to the Case Details pag Create a Step Map Open a task in Step Designer Create a step map Add a workgroup to a step map Add an attachment to a step map Use Preconditions and Sets Organize tasks with preconditions Organize tasks with inclusive sets Organize tasks with exclusive sets Automate Case Packaging Open a task in Process Designer Add a component step to a task Use a component step to package a case Add Case Stages Add case stages to a solution Use a system step to perform a case stage operation Use a case stage as a task precondition Solution Design Principles Describe solution design principles

Generating new leads and new business can be both time-consuming and frustrating. It's not easy - it takes skill, careful preparation and the creation of effective models and methods, even perhaps using formal approaches and scripts. Once generated, a new lead or enquiry must also be carefully managed to maximise the potential revenue it can generate. But it's crucial to get it right. If your company can afford not to worry about getting new business - congratulations! If your company is completely confident that it is performing at peak potential in generating new leads - again, congratulations! But if your company is working in the real world, couldn't your team do with some help, to become even just that little bit more effective, to make the process just that little less painful? This highly practical, intensive workshop gives sales teams the proven strategies and tactics they need to build a sustainable new business pipeline. This course will help participants: Develop a clear and consistent process for new business development and lead-generation Master the secret of effective new business development and lead-generation - 'only sell the appointment or next stage of the sales process, not your product or service' Set and achieve the right level of new business development and lead-generation activity to achieve your personal and organisational sales goals Apply the key principles of effective prospecting and pipeline management using a proven toolkit and approach Overcome the most common 'put-offs' when conducting telephone or face-to-face business-development and lead-generation activities Develop an engaging telephone voice and manner - and a 'networking personality' Qualify potential opportunities with more accuracy on a consistent basis Prioritise opportunities and manage their time when sourcing new business Discover online sources of leads, contacts and referrals Overcome psychological blocks to cold or warm calling - theirs and the client's Identify potential prospects - and decision-makers and influencers within target prospects - with greater accuracy Make outbound sales or appointment calls with improved confidence, control and results Improve the conversion of calls to appointments by using more effective questions and sales messages Get past gatekeepers and assistants more effectively Make the most of your CRM software and systems 1 Online marketing - what works! Workshop overview and learning objectives Choosing your social media channels LinkedIn for sales and marketing Designing and implementing an effective new business email campaign online Creating a lead-generation strategy online - with case studies Avoiding common mistakes in social media marketing Case study: 'Best practice in social media sales and marketing' Using blogs and video-based marketing (eg, YouTube) New trends and how to keep your finger on the 'social media' pulse Twenty essential websites and online marketing tools 2 Making appointments by telephone Planning the call, telephone techniques, integrating with email and online marketing Developing a clear and consistent process to appointment-making Setting and achieving the right level of telephone activity to achieve your appointment goals Applying the key principles of effective prospecting and pipeline management generation, using a proven toolkit and approach Overcoming the most common 'put-offs' to seeing or engaging with you Overcoming psychological blocks to cold or warm calling - yours and the client's Identifying potential prospects - and decision-makers and influencers within target prospects - with greater accuracy Making outbound sales or appointment calls with improved confidence, control and results Improving conversion of calls to appointments by using more effective questions and sales messages The five keys to developing an engaging telephone voice and approaching manner 3 Power networking Strategies for networking and B2B referral-based marketing The importance, and different types, of networking How to work a room - preparation and strategy Communication dynamics in networking - the power of the listening networker Assumptions when networking Business networking etiquette Making connections, asking for cards, contact details and referrals, gaining follow-up commitments Building relationships - follow-up and follow-through 4 Developing new leads Strategies for first-time sales calls Gaining rapport and opening first-time and new business sales calls effectively Advanced consultative selling - questioning techniques to quickly and efficiently uncover opportunities, need areas and preferences Presenting your solution to a new or first-time customer - creating an enthusiastic and compelling personalised and persuasive summary of your proposal Value message - differentiate your solutions clearly and accurately, with tailored value statements Presenting the right initial USPs, features and benefits and making them relevant and real to the customer Smart ways to position price, emphasise value and be a strong player without being the cheapest or leading on price Learn and use advanced techniques to determine customer needs, value and decision-making criteria in depth on a first-time call 5 Organised persistence - CRM and prospect-tracking Organised persistence - sales tracking, following up on 'sleeping' customers, gaining referrals, time and territory management Maintaining a good database for maximising new business ROI Developing a contact strategy with different types and levels of contact Analysing your contact base using state-of-the-art software and tools Making the most of your CRM systems and solutions Understanding that your attitude makes a difference when sourcing new business Setting SMART objectives for new business development and lead-generation Practical exercise - setting personal development and business goals Time management tips to improve daily productivity New business pipeline management strategies for peak sales performance 6 Workshop summary and close Practical exercise - developing your new business action plan Review and feedback

Businesses that don't control their costs don't stay in business. How well are you doing? Is everyone in your organisation sufficiently aware of costs, managing them effectively and maximising opportunities to reduce them? If there is scope for improvement, this course will help get you back on track. It will demonstrate that cost reduction is so much more than cost control and cost cutting. True cost management is about being aware of costs, seeking to reduce them through good design and efficient operating practices whilst taking continuing action on overspending. This course will develop the participants' skills in: Being aware of costs at all times Seeking cost reduction from the start (including life-cycle costing) Appraising projects / production to identify and take out risk Understanding real budgeting Using techniques such as ZBB and ABC where appropriate Ensuring cost reports lead to action Managing a cost reduction process that delivers Benefits to the organisation will include: Identification of cost reduction and business improvement opportunities Better reporting and ownership of costs Greater awareness and control of everyday costs 1 Introduction - the cost management process The risks of poor cost control Capital and revenue costs The importance of cost awareness The importance of cost reduction Cost management - the key aspects How to build a cost management and control process checklist for your areas of responsibility 2 Cost removal - taking out costs Cost awareness Costs of poor design / poor processes Value engineering Removing redundant costs 3 The need for commercial, technical and financial appraisals Understand the problems before cash is committed and costs incurred Making the effort to identify commercial and technical risk The time value of money - DCF techniques for long term projects Cost models for production processes and projects Costing models - project appraisals The use of spreadsheets to identify sensitivity and risk How to focus on risk management 4 Budgeting - proper budgeting challenges costs The philosophy of the business - are costs an issue? The importance of having the right culture The need for detailed business objectives Budgetary control measures Designing budget reports - for action 5 Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) - the principles Much more than starting with a clean sheet of paper What ZBB can achieve The concept of decision packages - to challenge business methods and costs Only necessary costs should be incurred A review of an operating budget - demonstrating what ZBB challenges and the costs it may lead to being taken out 6 Awareness of overheads and other costs Definitions of cost - direct and indirect Dealing with overheads - what is meant by allocation, absorption or apportionment? The apparent and real problems with overheads Different ways of dealing with overheads Review of overhead allocation methods and accounting and reporting issues 7 Overheads and product costing Activity-based costing (ABC) - the principles Where and how the ABC approach may be helpful Know the 'true' cost of a product or a project Should you be in business? Will you stay in business? Identifying weaknesses in a traditional overhead allocation How ABC will help improve product or service costing Identifying which products and activities should be developed and which abandoned 8 Cost reduction culture The need for cost reports What measures can be used to identify over-spends as early as possible Cost control performance measures and ratios 9 Design of cost control reports Reports should lead to action and deliver Selecting cost control measures which can be acted upon Practice in designing action reports 10 Course summary - developing your own cost action plan Group and individual action plans will be prepared with a view to participants identifying their cost risks areas and the techniques which can be immediately applied to improve costing and reduce costs