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Increase customer satisfaction and achieve greater strategic and financial value.

APMG Lean IT is an extension of Lean Principles, applied in an IT environment.

The APMG Lean IT approach is a way of thinking and acting, focussing heavily on organizational culture. Lean IT is associated with the development and management of Information Technology products and services.

Lean Princples are concerned with:

  •     Increasing customer value.
  •     Eliminating waste (work that does not add value).
  •     Management as a facilitator.
  •     The involvement of all employees.
  •     Continual improvement.
  •     Preserving value with less work.

Certify your ability to:

  • Apply the principles of Lean IT practices to provide necessary insight into business services and support IT assets, employees and processes.
  • Utilize several Lean IT analysis tools and understand the application of the Lean IT philosophy in an IT environment.
  • Provide insight into customer experience and identify the cause of problems to increase customer satisfaction.
  • Align business services with IT to evaluate a service delivery solution and identify and reduce non-value adding activity.
  • Streamline and automate compliance processes to lessen cost and risk.
  • Enable an organization to achieve operational excellence through improved agility, service quality and efficiency.
  • Build a customer and value-oriented culture in which employees engage in Lean IT processes.
  • Optimise IT operations and processes supporting the most business critical applications and services.
  • Implement a rigorous problem solving process to achieve greater strategic and financial value.

Foundation

Enable organizations to provide the best possible services for their customers.

IT Governance, IT Management, Process Management, Service Management
Who is Foundation for?

Any manager or specialist working in an IT organization can benefit from the insights provided by the qualification.

What are the key things you will learn?
  • The principles underlying the Lean philosophy.
  • The importance of understanding and delivering customer value.
  • The way Lean looks at processes and the waste within them.
  • How to measure performance and the key determinants of performance.
  • What the organizational requirements are when implementing Lean, including the use of visual management tools.
  • The DMAIC problem-solving model.
  • Which behaviour and attitude is necessary for Lean to be successful within an IT organization.
Exam format:
  •     Multiple choice
  •     40 questions per paper
  •     26 marks required to pass (out of 40 available) - 65%
  •     60 minutes duration
  •     Closed book

Kaizen

Learn the skills needed to facilitate Kaizen improvement events.

Change Management, Process Management
What is required?
  • Lean IT Foundation certificate.
What are the key things you will learn?

The Kaizen level focuses on building on the learning objectives from the Lean IT Foundation to provide specific skills-based training to IT professionals responsible for facilitating Kaizen improvement events.

Kaizen is the Japanese word for continuous improvement using small incremental changes. It translates as "change for the better". It is an approach for solving problems and forms the basis of incremental continual improvement in organizations involving everyone; managers and workers alike providing structure to process improvement.

Exam format:
  •     Multiple choice
  •     40 questions per paper
  •     26 marks required to pass (out of 40 available) - 65%
  •     90 minutes duration
  •     Closed book

Leadership

Learn how to develop an IT organization into a Lean IT organization.

Change Management, IT Governance, IT Management, Process Management
What is required?
  • Lean IT Foundation certificate.
What are the key things you will learn?

Lean IT Leadership builds on the basic knowledge acquired following Lean IT Foundation training and certification.

The level focuses on ensuring that people fulfilling a leadership role within an IT organization know what can be done to develop it into a Lean IT organization. The course will provide insights that will help candidates ensure the success of their use of Lean principles within their IT processes.

Whilst the Lean IT Kaizen level is not a pre-requisite, candidates who complete the Lean IT Leadership scheme can benefit substantially from first understanding the Lean IT Kaizen role. One of the core tasks of Lean IT Leadership is driving and teaching continuous improvement, and the tools for this task are covered in detail in the Kaizen course.

Exam format:
  • Multiple choice
  • 60 questions per paper
  • 39 marks required to pass (out of 60 available) – 65%
  • 120 minutes duration
  • Open Book – Lean IT Leadership Official Publication only

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Advanced options

SFIA Framework

Visit SFIA
The SFIA Framework is the global common reference for skills and competency for the digital world
SFIA is a globally recognised framework that “identifies skills needed for the Information age”. This APMG certification has been mapped against the SFIA Framework to help you see which certifications are most relevant to your professional development.
Knowledge
This certification confirms (endorsement)
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 3
...
This certification would be useful for (development)
Same as above plus Organisational Change Management up to level 4
...
Knowledge
This certification confirms (endorsement)
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 3, Organisational Facilitation level 4
...
This certification would be useful for (development)
Same as above plus Organisational Change Management up to level 4
...
Knowledge
This certification confirms (endorsement)
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 3
...
This certification would be useful for (development)
Same as above plus Organisational Change Management up to level 4, Business Process Improvement level 5
...

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TESTIMONIALS

Lean Kaizen provides a deep understanding of a set of values and framework for improvement that will amplify my ability to be successful as an agent of change.

Michael Mulcahy, Director

Some of the largest companies are starting to use Lean IT in different parts of the organization - the ability to understand and apply it provides a strong differentiation.

Enrique Velázquez Martín

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FAQs

What is a Lean IT digital badge?

Digital badges allow you to easily showcase your achievements online.

When you pass an exam - you'll instantly have the option to claim a digital badge representing your new certificate.

Your badge can be embedded on an email signature, website, social media or digital CV.

With just one click employers, customers and clients can easily view and verify your credentials and skills.

Please download our digital sharing presentation for more information.

How do I claim my Lean IT digital badge?

Once you’ve been notified that you’ve passed your exam - you will have the option to create a digital badge in APMG's Candidate Portal.

Visit APMG's Candidate Portal, view your exam results and select 'Create Badge'.

This takes you to the Credly website where the digital badges are hosted. You will be guided through the Credly account creation process.

Once you have created an account with Credly - login into the account and accept your pending badge.

What is Lean IT?

Lean IT is a way of thinking and acting, and applying Lean principles to IT service management practices. Its central premise is the delivery of value to customers, whereby the employees are the ones actually delivering the value on a daily basis and identifying roadblocks and solutions. Managers ensure that employees are facilitated and encouraged in their quest to deliver customer value.

Essentially, Lean IT is about building a customer and value-oriented culture in which managers and employees engage in removing waste, inflexibility and variability from the organization and its services. It is not focussed on technical aspects of IT.

Find out more at: https://apmg-international.com/product/lean-it

How can I train for the Lean IT examination?

Individuals are able to self-study, or training for Lean IT is available from the network of Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) who are assessed and certified by APMG-International. The full list of Lean IT ATOs can be found at: https://apmg-international.com/all-atos

How do I sit the exams?

Individuals can book via APMG Public Exams, or Lean IT accredited training organizations include the examination as part of the associated training course. It is not available for self study and that candidates must attend a course.

How much does it cost to sit the Lean IT examination?

If you are sitting the examinations through an accredited training organization, the costs of the exams are generally included in the course fee. If you are self-studying, costs can be found on the APMG Public Exams portal.

Are there any pre-requisites for the Lean IT examination?

There are no pre-requisites for the Foundation examination, candidates must achieve a pass at foundation level before completing the Kaizen or Leadership examinations.

What is the main supporting publication for Lean IT?

Supporting publications, and any available supporting material,  can be obtained from your Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) or from APMG International.

Which languages is the Lean IT examination available in?

The APMG Lean IT Foundation examinations are available in English, European Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese.

Kaizen is available in English, Spanish and Japanese. 

Leadership is currently available in English only.

The 2011 version of the Lean IT Foundation examination is currently still available in French and Dutch.

What languages are the supporting publications available in?

The supporting publications are currently available in English only.

How long will it take to learn the Lean IT material?

Training courses delivered by ATOs are generally delivered over 2 days, however it is well worth investigating with individual providers, as many will offer tailored and blended learning solutions. Courses are likely to involve a degree of pre-course work and homework during the course.

For individuals self-studying we recommend 12 - 16 hours of study per certification.

What is the pass mark for the Lean IT examination?

Candidates must achieve a score of 26/40 to pass both the Foundation and Kaizen examinations.

Candidates must achieve a score of 39/60 to pass the Leadership examination.

How long is the Lean IT qualification valid for?

The qualification and certification is valid for life, with no expiry or requirement for re-qualification applicable.

When can I expect the result of my Lean IT examination?

Lean IT examinations can be marked on location after the exam, but this is down to the discretion of the invigilator at the time. Confirmation of the provisional result is sent to the relevant accredited training organization (for ATO candidates) within 7-10 days of the examination.

When will I receive my certificate?

Candidates will be able to claim their digital badge and electronic certificate from their APMG Candidate Portal within two business days of their exam result being issued.

What pass mark is required to be eligible to become a Lean IT trainer?

To be eligible to apply to become a Lean IT trainer, individuals must achieve a score of 75% in the Foundation examination and the level they wish to train.

How do I find out if I scored enough to be eligible to become a trainer?

To find out if you scored enough to be eligible as a trainer, please email servicedesk@apmg-international.com noting your interest. A representative of the Service Desk will be able to advise.

Can I use the APMG-International Lean IT logo?

Only organizations licensed to do so are allowed to use the APMG-International Lean IT logo. Such organizations include Lean IT ATOs (Accredited Training Organizations). Should you have a requirement to use the logo, please contact us on +44 (0)1494 452450, or at servicedesk@apmg-international.com, and we will be able to advise.

How does my organization become a Lean IT Accredited Training Organization (ATO)?

An organization wishing to become a Lean IT ATO must first submit an application form to either the APMG-International Service Desk or the relevant APMG-International office. Where appropriate, an invoice will be raised and the organization will then be subject to APMG-International’s ATO assessment process.

How do I become a Lean IT approved trainer?

All Lean IT trainers must be ‘sponsored’ by a Lean IT accredited training organization (ATO). Details of all Lean IT ATOs can be found at: https://apmg-international.com/all-atos

A trainer application must be submitted by sponsoring ATO to their relevant APMG-International office.

How do I access my digital badge and/or certificate?

You can always access all your electronic certificates and badges via the APMG Candidate Portal. Once you have logged on to the Candidate Portal, click on the ‘Badges and Certificates’ option from the menu bar at the top of screen. From here you should click on the ‘Create Badge/Certificate’ button. This will take you to the Credly platform to create and account and download your badge and certificate.

Step-by-step guidance is available to download from the ‘Badges and Certificates’ area in your Candidate Portal.

Electronic certificates are environmentally friendly, but you can print the certificate yourself at home or work, if required.

If you have any problems with accessing your digital certificate, please contact our Customer Interaction Team - servicedesk@apmg-international.com

Can I earn PMI® PDUs for attending an accredited training course?

It is possible to earn PMI Education PDUs for attending third-party provider training (training courses not offered by a PMI Authorized Training Partner), as long as the training meets the requirements around the skill areas of the PMI Talent Triangle. Please check the PMI website (https://www.pmi.org/certifications/certification-resources/maintain/earn-pdus/education) for further details on how to record your PDUs and what supporting evidence is required.

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