Client case studies

Atos Origin – programme management training

How Xpertise provided programme management training to Atos Origin, one of the world’s leading IT services companies.

Managing Successful Programmes is a high-level programme management course from the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) which is aimed at senior project managers. It is often described as a ‘step up from PRINCE2’ in that it is intended for those people who project managers often work for, or report to.

As you might expect, this is a rigorous and intensive course – indeed, fewer than one in five people who become certified in the PRINCE2 project management methodology need to (or elect to) take their skills to this level.

For Atos Origin, project management and programme management skills are an essential part of their consultants’ skills set. Just as Atos Origin had trusted Xpertise with its PRINCE2 training, so the company turned to Xpertise for its programme management training.

Xpertise was the natural choice for Atos Origin – for several reasons. First, Xpertise has proven itself with Atos Origin over several years – not just in technical IT training, but as an all-round learning provider, with professional skills training such as ITIL (IT service management) and PRINCE2 (project management). Also, Xpertise had shown great flexibility and willingness to innovate, by helping to create blended learning programmes – mixing e-learning, support and instructor-led training. Finally, Xpertise is able to handle more than just the training events – providing training management, consulting and administration.

For Atos Origin, Xpertise runs a closed schedule of Managing Successful Programmes courses – courses just for Atos Origin’s staff – with courses available all year round. This enables Atos Origin to plan ahead and accommodate the large number of people taking the course – almost forty people a year over the last two years.

The course runs over five days and includes three examinations – which are taken one per day during the last three days of the course. It’s not easy going – and requires hard work from the delegates to learn these higher-level skills. The typical delegate is not an IT professional, or even technical by nature – they are business consultants from Atos Origin’s business consulting division, responsible for managing important programmes for Atos Origin’s clients.

The programme is hugely successful, with outstanding examination pass rates which are well above the industry average.

“Xpertise continues to provide an outstanding training service – able to meet our needs with great flexibility. Even with more advanced professional skills training such as Managing Successful Programmes, Xpertise operates with professional confidence and quality – we can depend on them to get it right.” – Chris Morgan, training consultant, Atos Origin