Category Archives: IT Manager Institute

IT Due Diligence and Assimilation class

Posted on September 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

Last week I held a 2-day class on IT Due Diligence and Assimilation based on the process and tools I developed from managing the IT focus in over 40 company acquisitions.

When I joined a small company many years ago to manage the IT Department, I had never heard of the term “due diligence”. I was about to get a heavy dose of it as we grew this $30 million company in 5 1/2 years to over $650 million in revenue by acquiring over 35 companies.

We were an “acquisition machine”!

Since I had no process or tools to conduct an IT due diligence, I had to develop them along the way, , , not so much a conscious decision but more by necessity simply to get the job done. In retrospect, without the tools and process I developed my company would have “run flat over me” as we generated tremendous change by acquiring so many companies so quickly. These resources “saved my bacon”.

I have two more classes coming up this year in Dubai, UAE to deliver content on IT due diligence and assimilation.

Oct. 20, 2013 — 1-day IT Due Diligence and Assimilation Overview session preceding a 4-day IT Manager Institute. The 1-day class is being provided to accommodate a few who want the material but can’t afford to return to Dubai for the class we have scheduled in November (see below).
Nov. 20-21, 2013 — 2-day IT Due Diligence and Assimilation Program. This is the complete version of the class. Learn more

Download the Brochure

Can’t attend the class? CLICK HERE to check out our IT Due Diligence and Assimilation BUNDLE of digital training and products, , , this is the most comprehensive set of IT due diligence materials in the industry.

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Tagged company acquisition, company merger, discovery process, due diligence, due diligence discovery, it assessment, it conversions, it due diligence, m&A, mergers and acquisitions, mike sisco, technology conversions

57th IT Manager Institute held last week

Posted on September 25, 2013 | Leave a comment

IT Manager Institute #57 – Columbia, TN – September 2013

Last week we held our 57th IT Manager Institute at Graymere Country Club in Columbia, Tennessee. The club is about 1 mile from my home so teaching classes there is great plus the club’s southern hospitality and quiet environment makes it a pretty special place.

The weather during the week was great and the golf course is pretty close to perfect so keeping my mind on the class might have been a challenge except we had a super group of IT managers attending this one. Seems like we always have a great group!

Nashville, TN, , , Pittsburgh, PA, , , Charlotte, NC, , , and Abuja, Nigeria were represented.

CLICK HERE to check out photos of all our IT Manager Institute classes.

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Tagged columbia tn, graymere cc, Graymere Country Club, it manager institute, it manager training, itbmc, mike sisco

IT Manager Institute #56 – Dubai, UAE

Posted on June 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

Last week’s program in Dubai was a huge success with 31 managers from 6 countries attending our 56th IT Manager Institute. I’m the ugly guy in the middle in the gray suit.

This was a super group of IT managers and executives and I enjoyed every minute with them.

On the first day of class at 9:00am Dubai time, I launched a new book to my Practical IT Manager Newsletter list. 21 Secrets Every IT Manager ~~Should~~ MUST Know has been in development for a couple of years and it was nice to launch it during my largest class to date. Each student received a free copy. Learn more

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Tagged it manager education, it manager institute, it manager training, it managers middle east

Headed to Dubai for IT Manager Institute #56

Posted on May 24, 2013 | Leave a comment

I leave for Dubai tomorrow to deliver my 56th IT Manager Institute next week. It will be the 8th time to deliver the program in Dubai, , , one of my favorite places to go.

UPDATE
This class will be held in 3 days rather than 5. The biggest challenge for many to attend the program is being able to break away from the office for a whole week or more depending upon travel requirements.

I have delivered the program in 3 days a couple of times before – for the City of Anchorage, Alaska and for 17 IT managers in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada.

So, I decided to streamline the program to make it available in 3 days for a large group. This is the 4th time to refresh the program since delivering the first IT Manager Institute in 2003.

The IT Manager Institute program is better than ever with everything you need to manage your IT organization effectively and to obtain ITBMC (IT Business Manager Certification) status. The new program even has a few extra gifts for students not available in earlier classes.

I will also launch my new book next week during the class. Read my next post to learn about the new book.

As you may know, my company mission is, “helping IT managers of the world achieve more™ success”. The Institute is the most effective way to develop critical IT management skills that help you succeed.

Every IT manager should have access to the IT Manager Institute program and BONUS materials we give students who attend. Still, there are many who cannot attend the class due to cost or travel challenges, , , or they simply “can’t afford the time” to be away from the office.

This is why the IT Manager Institute Self Study was developed. It’s identical to the classroom version, even down to the BONUS IT Manager Institute flash drive contents and ITBMC exam. The great news is that you can attend the class from your home or office, , , at less cost, no travel, and at your own pace.

Learn more at http://itmanagerinstitute.com/training/self-study-program

Hundreds of IT managers have attained ITBMC status through the self study and now use our practical IT manager tools and templates to help them achieve more success.

The 3-day classroom pilot we are delivering in Dubai next week looks like it’s making a difference, , , it is lining up to be the biggest Institute class to date. Look for my post next week with photos of the class.

Below are photos from our last two classes in Dubai – October 2012 and February 2013.

IT Manager Institute #54 – Dubai, UAE – February 2013

IT Manager Institute #53 – Dubai, UAE – October 2012

I can hardly wait to meet the managers in next week’s Dubai Institute and expect it will be a great class.

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Tagged dubai, it manager education, it manager institute, it manager institute self study, it manager training, itbmc, mike sisco, uae, united arab emirates

My 7th trip to Dubai and 54th IT Manager Institute

Posted on February 27, 2013 | Leave a comment

Today, I wrap up the 54th IT Manager Institute with 10 IT managers from 6 countries. What a great group this is, , , it seems that every group gets better than the last.

I like big classes because of the revenue opportunbity for our company but the smaller classes tend to be more fun in that we are able to get to know one another better. This group has been exceptional.

54th IT Manager Institute – Dubai, UAE – February 2013

Managers attended from Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Nigeria, , , a great diversity that added much to the program.

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Two more IT Manager Institutes held

Posted on October 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

We held two more IT Manager Institutes in September and October with 35 IT managers from 12 countries attending.

#52 – Columbia, TN – September 2012

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#53 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates – October 2012

We have delivered 53 IT Manager Institute programs since 2003. The IT Business Manager Certification (ITBMC) was added in 2005 with a joint development venture with Belmont University. The Institute is considered by many as one of the best and most practical IT manager development programs in the industry.

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Tagged cio, dubai training, ict manager training, is manager, it manager institute, itbmc, mike sisco. it manager training

51st IT Manager Institute held in Atlanta, Georgia

Posted on May 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

Last week, I held the 51st IT Manager Institute in Norcross, GA, , , just north of Atlanta and next to Roswell, GA where I lived for 20 years.

Samuel and Georgette – IT Manager Institute #51

The 51st class was small. We had 4 students drop out the week before the class due to vacation, project commitments, , , or in the case of one student from Venezuela who had difficulties in coordinating the trip. Fortunately, all plan to attend the fall class I have scheduled for Columbia, TN the week of September 24-28, 2012. I can hardly wait to meet them.

Normally, I would probably cancel such a small class when I have to travel, but one of the students, Samuel Alabi, came all the way from Lagos, Nigeria. His company is headquartered in Houston so he is spending a couple of more weeks in the US.

The other student, Georgette Correa, works right around the corner from where we held the class so I decided to go ahead and make it happen, , , and I’m so glad I did.

This was just a FUN CLASS, , , both Georgette and Samuel are extremely likable and fun to be around, , , we laughed quite a lot in this class. Small classes are not quite as profitable for us, but the positive thing is I’m able to get to know the students much better than in a big class, , , and, I’m “helping IT managers of the world achieve more success” , , , one manager at a time.

It’s worth the effort.

Driving around my old neighborhood brought back some great memories, , , plus I was able to have dinner with my brother, Mark.

On another night, I met Tom Mochal at the Cheesecake Factory in Perimeter Mall where we met one another for the first time in 2002. Tom and I have become close and share ideas with each other in meetings and our wives enjoy getting together.

Joining us was Craig Telfer, a long time friend who I worked with in two companies. It is always good to see Craig and I consider him a “brother”.

Dexter Oliver and his best friend for many years, Irvin, also joined us for dinner, , , I met Dex in February 2007 when he attended the IT Manager Institute (#23) in Nashville, TN. Dex hosted this Atlanta class and has sent 10 or more of his managers through the program over the years we have known one another. He is a great guy.

Dex makes a great comment about the program, “There is a huge difference in a manager who has attended the IT Manager Institute. Working with a manager who has gone through the program is ‘night and day’ compared to someone who has not.”

I was remiss not to get a photo of the dinner with Tom, Craig, Dex and Irvin.

But, , , here are a couple more photos of the 51st IT Manager Institute class.

Dinner at Ippolito’s

Samuel and Georgette after a great meal at Ippolito’s

Here are a few of their comments:
“This course is the best course pertaining to IT that I’ve ever taken. I highly recommend it for anyone in IT – not just managers.”

“Mike Sisco is ranked, in my book, one of the greatest teachers. He has made a huge impact in my thought process in reference to my IT career.”

“The content is very much a “must know” for IT managers who are hungry to succeed.”

“This is a mini MBA for IT managers.”

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Tagged it manager institute, it manager training, itbmc

“One is the loneliest number” – IT Manager Institute #49

Posted on March 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Linda Duntsch didn’t realize she would be the only student in the 49th IT Manager Institute. We knew the class was going to be small as there were just three paid registrations. First, one no-show from Accra, Ghana and another who requested to be allowed to attend the Atlanta class in May. Turns out that the manager who asked to postpone is also from Linda’s company.

Well, , , “The show must go on!”

When Linda told her manager she was the only one in the class, he jokingly suggested she might need “remedial instruction”. It’s obvious she has a good relationship with her manager, , , always a good thing to see.

The great thing about a small class is that we get to know one another a lot more. One of the best aspects of my travels is the opportunity I have to meet so many good people who are striving to succeed as IT managers, , , the most difficult management role in a company.

There was plenty of discussion and Linda achieved her ITBMC certification with one of the best exam scores we have had, , , looks like the “remedial help” worked.

Here are a few photos:

IT Manager Institute #49 – Columbia TN

Dinner with The Sisco’s, , , Mike, Dorine and Eddie

Cajun dinner at River Terraces overlooking the Duck River – always memorable

Small classes are fun and allow considerable more discussion of the material and what the students would like to talk about. Every class is unique with a different “class personality”. Linda made this class fun and interesting.

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Tagged it manager institute, it manager training, mike sisco

48th IT Manager Institute – Dubai, UAE

Posted on March 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

Today wraps up my 48th IT Manager Institute and 5th program in Dubai, UAE.

What a GREAT group this was to work with, , , without question one of my best and most fun group of managers to spend time with. They clicked with one another from the very first day.

And what a wonderful city we are in, , , there is nothing like Dubai in the world.

Last night’s dinner was special. We ate at the Armani Mediterraneo restaurant in the Burj Khalifa, , , tallest building in the world. It is more impressive every time I see it.

Food was great but the cameraderie and bonding with members of the class is what makes our class dinners so special for me. I tell everyone that I get to meet some of the best people in the world and this group stands among the very best.

Today, we finish the presentations, award class certificates, and finish the ITBMC exams. They are all a bit anxious about passing the exam, but I can tell they will do fine. I’ve done this many times and you get a sense for these things based upon class participation, type of questions asked, etc.

My next class is just a couple of weeks away, , , this time I’ll be at home in Columbia, TN. I look forward to the next group and know it will also be a great class.

More photos of this week.

In the classroom

Burj Khalifa at night.

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at over 828 meters (2,716 feet), , , that’s over half a mile long. This building owns several world records:

World Records

• Tallest building in the world
• Tallest free-standing structure in the world
• Highest number of stories in the world
• Highest occupied floor in the world
• Highest outdoor observation deck in the world
• Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world
• Tallest service elevator in the world

Over twice as tall as the Empire State Building

Dinner at the Burj Khalifa

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Posted in IT Manager Institute, IT Manager Tips

Tagged burj khalifa, dinner at the burj khalifa, it manager institute, itbmc

Awesome experience with my Arabian friend

Posted on March 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

Eisa Al Monsoori from Abu Dhabi attended my last Dubai class and I was able to get to know him a bit. In our discussions he told me about he and his brother’s passion for raising falcons and training them to hunt. I was very interested in what he had to say.

Since the class, Eisa and I have stayed in touch via email. He is a strong family man like me and has a weekend retreat like we do so we have several things in common.

I made Eisa aware of my trip to Dubai and he offered to spend the day with me to show me his family farm and resort, , , I jumped at the chance to learn more about the local culture and see something outside of Dubai.

Eisa and I spent most of Saturday together. I was able to meet several of his brothers and nephews and a few friends. It was a great day with a few totally new experiences for me, such as:

Eating a great feast while sitting on the floor and with my hands from a gigantic platter of rice and lamb. They asked if I would like to “break the head of the lamb”, but I declined not knowing what it actually meant. Hope I didn’t insult anyone, but they all laughed so I’m probably ok.
Saw the largest fruit basket I’ve ever seen with exotic fruits from all over the world. I was so full from the meal that I declined most of the fruit. Eisa says that this is normal for them because on the weekends they have 60 or more people at their resort to share time together. The close family bond they have with his 13 brothers and 6 sisters is quite amazing.
The best experience was seeing his falcons. There were six of them housed in a large open room building. The photos below tell it best.