The ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) course is designed to provide organizations and professionals with the practical knowledge and skills needed to create a learning and improving IT organization with a strong strategic direction. This module focuses on how to direct and govern work, create measurable plans, and embed continual improvement to ensure that services and practices remain aligned with evolving business needs.
Through this course, participants develop a comprehensive understanding of how to integrate governance, risk management, and continual improvement principles within the ITIL Service Value System. They explore how to establish direction, set priorities, and ensure that resources are optimized to deliver value efficiently and effectively.
Participants learn to develop clear and actionable plans at various organizational levels, supported by metrics and measurement techniques to evaluate progress and outcomes. The course emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to planning and improvement that balances speed, quality, and risk mitigation.
A strong focus is placed on building a culture of continual improvement, leveraging techniques such as the improvement model, agile approaches, and collaboration practices to foster innovation and adaptability. Participants gain insights into how to assess and optimize organizational performance through portfolio, program, and project management aligned with strategic goals.
The course also covers how to direct and oversee improvement initiatives, manage organizational change, and sustain high performance through structured governance and communication. By the end of the course, participants will be prepared to drive strategic execution, lead organizational change, and embed continual improvement practices to support business agility and resilience.
Join us on this transformative journey to deepen your IT service management expertise and become a certified ITIL® 4 DPI Specialist.
Purpose of the Training
The ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) course is designed to develop a practical understanding of how to direct and coordinate IT and business initiatives while fostering continual improvement across the organization. This module focuses on the skills and knowledge required to integrate governance, risk management, and organizational change management to ensure services and practices deliver sustained value. Participants will:
- Explore how to establish and communicate strategic direction, prioritize work, and align activities with organizational objectives and governance requirements.
- Learn how to apply improvement methods and models to embed continual improvement into the culture and practices of the organization.
- Develop the ability to manage organizational change effectively by engaging stakeholders and applying structured change management techniques.
- Understand how to measure performance, analyze data, and use feedback to inform decisions and improve outcomes.
- Gain insight into adapting planning and governance to support agility, resilience, and effective risk management.
- Build capabilities to balance innovation with control, ensuring that organizational initiatives support business value and compliance.
- Apply integrated approaches that combine governance, risk, and change management to drive sustainable improvement and organizational success.
- Be prepared to take the ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve certification exam.
Target Group
- ITIL® 4 Foundation certificate holders progressing toward Managing Professional or Strategic Leader designation,
- Professionals guiding strategy, governance, and continual improvement
- Service/project managers, ITSM practitioners, and change managers driving transformation
- Business relationship, portfolio, and operational managers overseeing service delivery
- Consultants and change agents promoting continual improvement and governance
- Leaders embedding governance and improvement in digital and traditional environments
- Professionals aligning Agile, DevOps, and modern practices with ITIL® 4 principles
Benefits
- A comprehensive understanding of how to direct, plan, and improve service management activities within complex environments,
- Practical skills to implement effective governance, risk management, and continual improvement aligned with organizational objectives,
- The ability to integrate Agile, DevOps, and Lean practices alongside ITIL 4 to enable flexible and responsive service delivery,
- Strengthened leadership capabilities to guide organizational change and cultivate a culture of collaboration and innovation,
- Insight into designing and implementing effective measurement and reporting systems to support informed decision-making,
- Acquisition of tools to enhance portfolio management, optimize resource allocation, and ensure strategic alignment of services,
- Increased confidence to support and influence senior leadership in leveraging IT service management to achieve business outcomes
Exam and Certification
- prerequisites: ITIL® 4 Foundation certification and attendance at an accredited ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan & Improve training course,
- mandatory exam,
- multiple-choice, single-response questions test,
- number of questions: 40,
- pass threshold: 70% (28 out of 40 possible points),
- language of the exam: English, Polish, among others – selected on the Accreditor’s website during exam registration,
- current list of available exam languages can be found on the Accreditor’s website,
- duration: 90 minutes (113 minutes for non-native speakers),
- mode: online (after online training) or in-person (after in-person training),
- date: post training, selected by participants at the Accreditor’s availability,
- closed book – no use of materials,
- validity of the certificate: 3 years,
- the participant who scores the necessary number of points in the exam is awarded the international certificate in electronic form.
Note! According to the Accreditor’s guidelines, the training must be purchased together with the exam package, which includes the online exam, access to the e-book, and Official Training Materials (OTM).
E-book
- E-book language: selected by the candidate on the Accreditor’s website during exam registration (language cannot be changed afterward),
- Available e-book languages: available in many languages including English and Polish
- Access: valid for 5 years exclusively on the Accreditor’s platform
OTM – Official Training Materials
- Official training materials developed by PeopleCert, available upon e-book activation
- OTM language: English
In addition, you can purchase exam retake Take2 Re-sit Exam Option. In case of a negative result, this option allows you to retake the exam in an online format within 6 months of the original date, without paying the full cost of the exam.
The Take2 Re-sit Exam Option can only be purchased when placing an order for the first exam date.
Training Programme
MODULE 1 – Core concepts of DPI
- Basics of direction
- Basics of planning
- Basics of improvement
- Other core elements
- Knowledge check
MODULE 2 – DPI through service value system and guiding principles
- DPI of the SVS
- DPI of guiding principles
- Knowledge check
MODULE 3 – Role of direction in strategy management
- Introducing strategy management
- Developing effective strategies
- Defining structures and methods for decision-making
- Knowledge check
MODULE 4 – Implementation of strategies
- Managing risks
- Making decisions through portfolio management
- Directing via Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
- Knowledge check
MODULE 5 – Introduction to assessment and planning
- Core concepts of assessment
- Conducting effective assessments
- Core concepts of planning
- Knowledge check
MODULE 6 – Assessment and planning through VSM
- Introducing VSM
- Developing value stream maps
- Knowing more about VSM
- Knowledge check
MODULE 7 – Measurement, reporting, and continual improvement
- Measurement and reporting
- Alignment of measurements and metrics
- Success factors and key performance indicators
- Continual improvement
- Knowledge check
MODULE 8 – Measurements and continual improvement through dimensions and SVS
- Measurements for the four dimensions
- Continual improvement of the service value chain and practices
- Knowledge check
MODULE 9 – OCM principles and methods
- Basics of OCM
- OCM throughout DPI and service value chain
- Resistance and reinforcement
- Knowledge check
MODULE 10 – Communication principles and methods
- Basics of effective communication
- Communication with stakeholders
- Knowledge check
MODULE 11 – SVS development using four dimensions
- Organizations and people in the SVS
- Partners and suppliers in the SVS
- Value streams and processes in the SVS
- Information and technology in the SVS
- Knowledge check
