ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy (DITS)
Course Overview
ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy (DITS) is the ITIL 4 qualification for senior leaders who shape how digital technology supports business strategy. PeopleCert describes it as a way to improve digital leadership skills and align digital strategies with broader business objectives, including navigating VUCA environments and responding to disruption.
ITIL 4 DITS training brings ITIL concepts to a strategic level. Learners cover crafting a digital vision and strategy, assessing digital strategy, operationalising strategy, responding to digital disruption, strategic risk management in VUCA environments, evolving service delivery models, driving organisational change, optimising customer experience and cultivating digital leadership. The course prepares candidates for the PeopleCert DITS exam and is one of two modules toward the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader designation.
Professionals at the start of their ITIL journey can begin with our ITIL 4 Foundation course.
Course Structure and Key Details
ITIL 4 DITS is typically delivered over three days as public classroom training, live virtual learning or private company events, and some accredited providers also offer self-paced eLearning. A case study runs through the course.
The first day introduces the case study, reviews ITIL key concepts and guiding principles, and covers digital and IT strategy concepts, external and internal environmental analysis, and ensuring organisational viability. The second day covers strategic approaches, risks and opportunities, and defining a digital strategy, including crafting a digital vision, assessing strategy, responding to disruption and managing strategic risk in VUCA environments. The third day covers implementing a digital strategy: operationalising strategy, evolving service delivery models, driving organisational change, optimising customer experience and cultivating digital leadership.
PeopleCert’s exam prerequisites are any ITIL v3 certification, ITIL 4 Foundation or ITIL 4 Managing Professional, and training through an accredited training organisation or ITIL official eLearning. At least three years of IT managerial experience is recommended. The exam has 30 multiple-choice questions, lasts 60 minutes, is closed-book, and has a 70% pass mark. The certification is renewed every three years with 60 CPD points.
Course Objectives
- Bring ITIL concepts to a strategic level for business leaders and aspiring leaders.
- Craft a digital vision and strategy.
- Assess digital strategy.
- Operationalise strategy.
- Respond to digital disruption and manage strategic risk in VUCA environments.
- Evolve service delivery models.
- Drive organisational change and optimise customer experience.
- Cultivate digital leadership.
Target Audience
- Chief information and digital officers shaping technology strategy at board level.
- IT directors and heads of IT responsible for aligning IT with business goals.
- Senior business executives leading digital transformation programmes.
- Transformation and strategy managers turning digital ambitions into plans.
- Service management leaders moving from operational to strategic roles.
- ITIL 4 Managing Professionals working toward ITIL 4 Strategic Leader.
Course Content
8 modules · 8 topics01ITIL guiding principles and DITS decisions1 topic
- relating the 7 guiding principles (focus on value, start where you are, progress iteratively with feedback, collaborate and promote visibility, think and work holistically, keep it simple and practical, optimize and automate) to all aspects of digital and IT strategy.
02Key concepts 1 topic
- digital technology, digital business, digital organization, digitization, digital transformation; products, services and their management; strategy tiers; business models.
03DITS and the Service Value System1 topic
- — opportunity and demand, value, governance, continual improvement; environmental analysis (external via PESTLE, internal via the four dimensions of service management).
04Digital disruption and organizational viability1 topic
- viability, agility and resilience in VUCA environments; three levels of disruption (ecosystem, industry/market, organizational); positioning tools for digital organizations.
05Market relevance and operational excellence1 topic
- customer journeys, omnichannel delivery, context-sensitive delivery, customer analytics, customer feedback/360°; operational excellence across the four dimensions; financial aspects (funding, portfolio optimization, charging models, balancing cost of innovation and operation).
06Risks and opportunities1 topic
- risk management in digital organizations, risk posture, balancing risk and opportunity; innovation elements, techniques, and building an innovation culture.
07Defining and advocating a digital strategy1 topic
- digital readiness assessments, defining and communicating vision and strategy, business cases.
08Implementing a digital strategy1 topic
- operating models, architecture/workforce and talent management, digital leader skills, strategy coordination (large-scale transformation, incremental, mergers and acquisitions, individual changes), parallel operating models, measuring success (OKRs, CSFs, KPIs), digital transformation programme activities.
Schedule Dates
4 upcoming batches| Batch Dates | Duration | Batch Options | Language | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 December 2026 - 16 December 2026 | 3 Days | 4 hours & 8 hours | English / Arabic | |
| 15 March 2027 - 17 March 2027 | 3 Days | 4 hours & 8 hours | English / Arabic | |
| 21 June 2027 - 23 June 2027 | 3 Days | 4 hours & 8 hours | English / Arabic | |
| 27 September 2027 - 29 September 2027 | 3 Days | 4 hours & 8 hours | English / Arabic |
Can’t find a suitable date? Request a schedule that fits your team.
Request More InformationGlobally Recognised Digital Strategy and IT Leadership Expertise for Modern Executives
Every industry is now shaped by digital technology, and the organisations that thrive are those whose leaders can connect digital investment with business strategy, respond quickly to disruption and keep services resilient in uncertain conditions. ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy (DITS) training gives senior business and IT executives a globally recognised framework for that work. Learners practise crafting a digital vision and strategy, assessing strategy, operationalising it, responding to digital disruption, managing strategic risk in VUCA environments, evolving service delivery models, driving organisational change, optimising customer experience and cultivating digital leadership. The course prepares candidates for the PeopleCert DITS exam, which, together with ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve, leads to the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader designation.
FAQs
What is the ITIL 4 DITS course?
It is a strategic ITIL 4 course for senior business and IT executives, focused on aligning digital and IT strategy with business objectives and leading digital transformation.
Which delivery formats are available?
Accredited providers offer the course as public classroom training, live virtual learning, private company events, and, in some cases, self-paced eLearning. CounselTrain can advise on options for upcoming dates.
What topics does ITIL 4 DITS cover?
PeopleCert lists nine topic areas, from crafting a digital vision and assessing strategy to responding to disruption, managing strategic risk, evolving service delivery models, driving change, optimising customer experience and cultivating digital leadership.
How does ITIL Version 5 affect ITIL 4 DITS?
ITIL (Version 5) launched in early 2026. PeopleCert states that ITIL 4 remains available and that existing credentials keep their value, so DITS continues to count toward the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader.
Can my organisation book a private ITIL 4 DITS course?
Yes. CounselTrain arranges private batches for leadership teams, so discussion can focus on your own strategic challenges. Ask our advisors for a proposal.
How can ITIL 4 DITS support my career?
DITS is relevant to senior IT, digital, and transformation leadership roles. The course builds strategic knowledge and an internationally recognised credential, but career outcomes always depend on your experience, performance, and employer needs.
Who issues the ITIL 4 DITS certification?
The certification is issued by PeopleCert, which owns the ITIL framework and administers ITIL exams worldwide.
Is self-paced eLearning available for ITIL 4 DITS?
Yes. Some accredited providers offer ITIL 4 DITS as self-paced eLearning with official materials and an exam voucher. PeopleCert accepts ITIL official eLearning as qualifying training.
Flexible Training Options to Meet Your Needs
Choose how you learn — live online, in-classroom, at your workplace, or internationally. CounselTrain delivers certified IT training in the format that fits your team.
Select the method that best suits your needs.
Online Instructor-Led Training
Learn from the comfort of your workplace or at home through live virtual sessions led by expert trainers.
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Classroom Training
Participate in interactive, face-to-face training in our top 5-star training facilities in Dubai.
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Onsite Training
Learn a customised curriculum in your workplace to ensure the most impact and team participation.
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Overseas Training
Participate in our international training sessions and improve your abilities with world-class instructors.
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