University of Cape Town
Managing Technical Professionals
Tailor your leadership style to develop and support the unique needs of your technical team.
Start date
22 March 2021
Enroll by 16 March 2021
Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
“We believe that technical skills are table stakes – successful team members must also be situationally aware, communicate well, and have the appetite for continual learning.” – Misti Fragen, Vice President of Learning for Digital Products and Services, Novant Health
The Enterprisers Project (Jul, 2020).
Upskilling technical teams can result in happier team members producing better quality work, and the opportunity to learn new skills without having to find a new job.
Digital Leaders (Oct, 2020).
Duration: 8 weeks
Running a technical team offers a unique set of management challenges. The demands, needs, and motivators held by technical staff are often underestimated in companies, resulting in high staff turnover. Furthermore, technical professionals are commonly encouraged to develop their technical skills at the expense of leadership and interpersonal skills. In order to retain these technical employees and ensure they are performing optimally, leadership approaches need to be tailored for a team’s effective development and growth.
Enhance your leadership and soft skills on the Managing Technical Professionals online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Over eight weeks online, you’ll explore techniques that can be leveraged to improve team performance, innovation and enhance career development opportunities for you and your direct reports. You’ll discover how to improve team dynamics, and manage change by cultivating effective communication channels, and strategic thinking. The course culminates in a team-specific and personal strategic action plan to help achieve organisational objectives.
Is this course for you?
This course aims to give existing or aspiring managers the ability to lead, support, and develop a team of technical employees, enhance their leadership skills and, by default, their careers. Due to its wide industry applicability, it can be relevant and beneficial to multiple technically-orientated roles and responsibilities, including, but not limited to IT experts, developers, engineers, and data scientists. Although the areas of expertise are varied and diverse, the course addresses leadership and development needs that are common across differing management positions in an effort to upskill technical professionals for an increasingly complex and demanding workforce.
Course overview
Course overview
Duration: 8 weeks
Running a technical team offers a unique set of management challenges. The demands, needs, and motivators held by technical staff are often underestimated in companies, resulting in high staff turnover. Furthermore, technical professionals are commonly encouraged to develop their technical skills at the expense of leadership and interpersonal skills. In order to retain these technical employees and ensure they are performing optimally, leadership approaches need to be tailored for a team’s effective development and growth.
Enhance your leadership and soft skills on the Managing Technical Professionals online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Over eight weeks online, you’ll explore techniques that can be leveraged to improve team performance, innovation and enhance career development opportunities for you and your direct reports. You’ll discover how to improve team dynamics, and manage change by cultivating effective communication channels, and strategic thinking. The course culminates in a team-specific and personal strategic action plan to help achieve organisational objectives.
Is this course for you?
This course aims to give existing or aspiring managers the ability to lead, support, and develop a team of technical employees, enhance their leadership skills and, by default, their careers. Due to its wide industry applicability, it can be relevant and beneficial to multiple technically-orientated roles and responsibilities, including, but not limited to IT experts, developers, engineers, and data scientists. Although the areas of expertise are varied and diverse, the course addresses leadership and development needs that are common across differing management positions in an effort to upskill technical professionals for an increasingly complex and demanding workforce.
What will set you apart
An understanding of different management approaches that meet the unique requirements and expectations of technical professionals and teams.
The insight to manage conflict within technical teams and improve communication, innovation and performance.
Critical insights to lead and motivate technical teams through effective communication, and manage diversity, risk and change.
Validation of your ability to lead technical teams with a certificate of completion from Africa’s leading university.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Introduction to managing technical professionals
Module 2
Communicating effectively and managing conflict within a technical team
Module 3
Managing technical teams
Module 4
Developing and leading technical professionals
Module 5
Managing stakeholder relationships within a technical environment
Module 6
Managing change and risk
Module 7
Driving innovation within technical teams
Module 8
Aligning technical teams to business strategy
Get course prospectus
Course Convenor
Pitso Tsibolane
Senior Lecturer, Information Systems, Commerce Faculty, UCT
About the certificate
Gain critical insights into what it takes to effectively lead technical teams and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter, a 2U, Inc. brand, is an online learning expert with over 10 years' experience in developing high-quality online short courses from the world’s leading universities. We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required for the workplace of the future. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need.
Students are supported at every stage of the learning journey, enabling them to thrive professionally through increased relevance, competence, and confidence. Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing FAQ, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please see the list of university partner login pages here.
Financing options
We've recently partnered with financial services firm, FeverTree, to offer you another convenient way to finance your short course education. Find out how you can apply for a short-term loan below.
How do I apply?
- You have the option of applying for a full course-cost loan agreement with FeverTree (South African citizens and short courses only)
- FeverTree works with GetSmarter to ensure your studies are financed right away, giving you the chance to join the soonest presentation
- You can find out if you pre-qualify in seconds. Send an SMS with your “Name*Surname*ID Number*Gross Salary” to 30082
- FeverTree’s application process is simple and quick – expect a 15-minute turnaround to find out if you’ve been successful with your loan application
- Even if you aren’t successful in your FeverTree application, you’ll still be eligible for the payment plan options with GetSmarter
