University of Cape Town
Technical Team Management
Customise your leadership approach to effectively nurture and empower the distinct needs of your technical team.
Start date
01 September 2025
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
Managing a technical team poses unique management challenges as the demands, needs, and motivators of technical staff are often underestimated in organisations, resulting in high staff turnover rates. Additionally, technical professionals are often encouraged to develop their technical skills at the cost of leadership and interpersonal skills. Leadership approaches must be customised to retain these employees and ensure optimal performance, effective development, and growth.
The Managing Technical Professionals online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT) is designed to enhance leadership and soft skills. This eight-week online course explores techniques that can be leveraged to improve team performance and innovation while enhancing career development opportunities for students and their direct reports. The course covers team dynamics, effective communication channels, strategic thinking, and change management. By the end of the course, students will have developed a team-specific and personal strategic action plan that aligns with organisational objectives.
Is this course for you?
The primary objective of this course is to equip current and prospective managers with the necessary skills to effectively manage and cultivate a team of technical professionals. The course focuses on developing leadership abilities that will enable students to advance in their careers. It has broad applications across various technically oriented roles and responsibilities, such as IT professionals, engineers, developers, and data scientists. Despite the diversity of expertise in these fields, the course addresses common leadership and development needs for managers to enhance technical professionals' capabilities in a rapidly evolving and demanding workplace.
Course overview
Course overview
Duration: 8 weeks
Managing a technical team poses unique management challenges as the demands, needs, and motivators of technical staff are often underestimated in organisations, resulting in high staff turnover rates. Additionally, technical professionals are often encouraged to develop their technical skills at the cost of leadership and interpersonal skills. Leadership approaches must be customised to retain these employees and ensure optimal performance, effective development, and growth.
The Managing Technical Professionals online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT) is designed to enhance leadership and soft skills. This eight-week online course explores techniques that can be leveraged to improve team performance and innovation while enhancing career development opportunities for students and their direct reports. The course covers team dynamics, effective communication channels, strategic thinking, and change management. By the end of the course, students will have developed a team-specific and personal strategic action plan that aligns with organisational objectives.
Is this course for you?
The primary objective of this course is to equip current and prospective managers with the necessary skills to effectively manage and cultivate a team of technical professionals. The course focuses on developing leadership abilities that will enable students to advance in their careers. It has broad applications across various technically oriented roles and responsibilities, such as IT professionals, engineers, developers, and data scientists. Despite the diversity of expertise in these fields, the course addresses common leadership and development needs for managers to enhance technical professionals' capabilities in a rapidly evolving and demanding workplace.
Get this course for your team
Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.
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.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.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
What past students
think
David Muchatibaya
Software Engineer Team Lead
The one thing I will remember is the quality of support I received from the UCT and GetSmarter teams. [They were] responsive, attentive, and professional. The course itself has been a huge awakening for me. I learned new things about myself and how I can leverage this to advance my career in an efficient manner. [...] I have encouraged aspiring and current leaders to take this course. [It was] absolutely life-changing, in my opinion.
Course Convenor
Pitso Tsibolane
Senior Lecturer, Information Systems, Commerce Faculty, UCT
About the certificate
Acquire invaluable insights into the essentials of effectively leading 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 digital 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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Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
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 page, 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 visit your Account page 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
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