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Description

Management Control for Information Systems: Structure, Measure and Decide

Build IT cost structures and make information systems budget decisions clear and defensible

  • 0.43 days — 3 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

The IT function absorbs a significant budget whose allocation often remains opaque to business units. Costs are scattered across licences, infrastructure, projects and maintenance, with no one able to state what a service actually costs to deliver. Budget decisions are then settled by influence rather than by evidence.

This three-hour session lays the foundations of management control applied to information systems. Participants build a cost model by service, select defensible cost drivers and prepare internal charge-back to business units as well as the monitoring of IT projects.

Learning objectives

  • Structure the IT budget into usable cost categories
  • Distinguish running costs from project expenditure
  • Build a full cost per service delivered to business units
  • Select charge-back cost drivers suited to the organisation
  • Monitor IT project performance and analyse variances

What makes this programme different

A cost model by service is built during the session
A shared vocabulary between management controllers and IT teams
Charge-back rules are discussed from the angle of their acceptability

Programme

1Understanding the cost structure of an IT function

Knowing what you spend

  • Nature of expenditure and main budget categories
  • Infrastructure costs and application costs
  • Recurring charges and project expenditure
  • Share of external services and payroll costs

2Building the cost of services delivered

From budget to service catalogue

  • Defining the services delivered to business units
  • Direct allocation and apportionment of indirect costs
  • Selecting cost drivers and activity units
  • Building a unit cost per service

3Steering and reporting

Making decisions with the business

  • Internal charge-back and the conditions for its acceptance
  • Indicators for monitoring IT activity
  • Budget monitoring of projects and variance analysis
  • Preparing the management dialogue with business units

Who is it for

Management controllers · IT managers and finance managers responsible for the information systems budget.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with the basics of management control or budget management.

Dates & locations

12 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.