• To provide a solid foundation in the principles and techniques of cost estimation for IT infrastructure projects and operations.
• To enable participants to create, manage, and control detailed IT budgets, including capital (Capex) and operational (OpEx) models.
• To introduce the discipline of Value Engineering and its practical application to IT infrastructure to maximize functionality and ROI while minimizing cost.
• To develop skills in presenting and justifying IT financial plans to senior management and financial stakeholders.
• To foster an understanding of the total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI) for IT infrastructure assets.

Day 1: Foundations of IT Financial Management

Module 1: The Business of IT

• The role of IT Infrastructure as a business enabler.
• Understanding CapEx (Capital Expenditure) vs. OpEx (Operational Expenditure).
• Key financial concepts: TCO, ROI, NPV, Payback Period.

Module 2: Principles of Cost Estimation

• Types of estimates: Conceptual vs. Detailed.
• Estimating methodologies: Analogous, Parametric, Bottom-Up.
• Identifying cost components: Hardware, Software, Licensing, Cloud Services, Labor, Facilities, and Overhead.

Day 2: Deep Dive into IT Cost Estimating

Module 3: Estimating Hardware & Software Costs

• Vendor quotes, RFPs, and market analysis.
• Understanding licensing models (perpetual, subscription, user-based, core-based).
• Accounting for support, maintenance, and warranty costs.

Module 4: Estimating Cloud & SaaS Costs

• Comparing IaaS, PaaS, SaaS cost models.
• Estimating variable cloud consumption costs.
• Tools for cloud cost management and forecasting (e.g., AWS Calculator, Azure Pricing Calculator).

Module 5: Estimating Labor & Implementation Costs

• Estimating internal and external labor (consultants, integrators).
• Phasing costs across project timelines.
• Accounting for training and knowledge transfer.

Day 3: Budgeting and Cost Control

Module 6: Building the IT Budget

• Structuring a budget: Direct vs. Indirect costs, Contingency reserves.
• Phasing the budget across fiscal periods.
• Integrating project budgets with operational (BAU) budgets.

Module 7: Budget Approval and Governance

• Creating a compelling business case.
• Presenting financials to finance and executive stakeholders.
• Securing funding and managing the approval process.

Module 8: Managing and Controlling Costs

• Tracking actuals vs. budget (Earned Value Management - simplified).
• Managing change requests and scope creep.
• Forecasting final costs and implementing corrective actions.

Day 4: Value Engineering for IT Infrastructure

Module 9: Introduction to Value Engineering (VE)

• What is VE? Definition and core principles (Function Analysis).
• The VE job plan: Information, Function Analysis, Creativity, Evaluation, Development, Presentation.
• Applying VE to IT: Maximizing performance and value, not just minimizing cost.

Module 10: The VE Methodology in Practice

• Function Analysis: Defining the primary and secondary functions of an IT system (e.g., "Store Data," "Serve Web Pages," "Ensure Security").
• Creative Phase: Brainstorming alternative solutions to perform the required functions.

Day 5: Synthesis and Application

Module 11: Developing the Value Engineering Proposal

• Selecting the best-value alternative.
• Developing the final proposal with cost-benefit analysis and implementation plan.
• Selling the VE proposal to stakeholders.

Module 12: Advanced Topics & Course Integration

• Life-cycle costing for long-term IT assets.
• The financial implications of security and compliance.
• Managing costs in Agile/DevOps environments.

• IT Project and Program Managers
• IT Infrastructure Team Leads and Architects
• Systems and Network Engineers involved in planning
• IT Financial Analysts and Controllers
• Technology Procurement and Sourcing Specialists
• Aspiring IT Managers and Directors requiring financial literacy