Enterprise Architecture Training - six steps to using information effectively
training overview	step 1 gaining commitment	step 2 deciding requirements	step 3 creating a toolkit	step 4 developing a map	step 5 using information effectively	step 6 gathering feedback

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Step 1: Gaining commitment

Gaining commitment involves convincing people that this is important and necessary, and ensuring that the right people and resources are available to implement the ideas.

Our training includes executive briefings and workshops explaining the value, importance and benefits in using information effectively. The right commitment is critical for success. This step is critical for establishing things that need to be in place right at the start, such as resources, motivation and leadership. It also covers how to overcome inertia and resistance.

There are plenty of techniques that can help you here - the most convincing usually being the ones that help present measurable benefits offset against costs.

This step looks at some fundamental issues:

• Do you need to make the use of information more visible and explicit?
• Do you need a formal process for managing information as a resource?
• What are the measurable benefits and what is the business case for making changes?

The outputs from this step include:

• Commitment to the need and value of any changes.
• The necessary resources (funds, people, equipment, training) for making the changes.

Without commitment:

• It will be difficult to establish new techniques for making better use of information.
• Initiatives will suffer from lack of appropriate resources.

Time and effort:

The time taken to gain commitment is difficult to predict. If there is a clear understanding of the value of information as a resource and an existing commitment to other improvements, then it should not take very long to extend this to include information. On the other hand it can take a long period of promotion and persuasion to convince decision-makers - especially if the current focus is on cost-cutting rather than improvement.

Training modules include:

• The Fourth Resource - an introduction to Information Management
• Justifying information management initiatives - provides plenty of tips and guidelines for showing the benefits and value from any investments
• Organisational Change

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