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Applying Smart Tech in a Smart Way: The Right Approach to Digital Transformation

  • Analytics & Tech
  • Innovation & Business Improvement
Next Intake: 23 Sep 2025 (Tue)
  • Basic
  • SkillsFuture
  • Short Courses
  • This module is part of Advanced Certificate in Service Strategy & Management

This programme is conducted on-campus.

Next course starts on
23 Sep 2025 (Tue) See Full Schedule
Fee
SGD2,180* (as low as SGD254 after maximum funding) Learn More
Duration

2 days
Weekdays (9am - 6pm)

Level
Basic

Who Should Attend

  • Anyone who either leads or supports key improvement, transformation and innovation initiatives in an organisation, including:
    • Middle Managers
    • Innovation Leads
    • Programme Managers
    • Transformation Leads
    • Process Managers
    • Innovation Practitioners and other key individual contributors  
  • Anyone who is proactive in nature and wishes to discover new improvement techniques and opportunities for future initiatives

Overview

“Do you do De-digitalisation?” Achieving true transformation requires us to go beyond a technology-driven approach and re-think our customers, our work, our skills and our organisation.

This was a real request by an organisation that had faced big trouble in its effort to do a digital transformation.  Such ‘digital disasters’ can happen when we make fail to use technology in a smart and comprehensive way and ignore the other critical parts of a digital transformation: strategy, people, processes, management and the organisation itself. Achieving a genuine, innovative, sustainable transformation requires not just a few sporadic tech tools and tactical action plans but a strategic, systemic approach that addresses the core changes needed to move an organisation forward. In this course, we will introduce you to the right approach to achieving Digital Transformation.  

This module is available on a standalone basis.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand how to ‘go digital’ the right way, encompassing the formulation of a basic digital strategy and applying technology in the redesigning of key work processes and the rethinking of the day-to-day management and monitoring of services
  • Understand how to use technology in an integrative way, rather than an add-on manner
  • Recognise the difference between ‘Built-In’ instead of ‘Bolted-On’ 
  • Learn techniques and practices that enable you to help your organisation move forward in its digital transformation and reach amazing new levels of sustainable high performance
  • Avoid the digital disaster ‘quick wins’ that would otherwise take you backwards

Topic/Structure

  • Identify key pitfalls in antiquated thinking traits and organisational management practices with respect to technological developments, societal trends and geo-economic realities
  • Review the challenges towards digital transformation at the workplace
  • Analyse digital transformation failures and identify areas of opportunities
  • Practice how to formulate an empathy-driven customer-centric digital transformation plan
  • Distinguish new concepts of process design for the digital era where processes are designed to seamlessly flow product or service from customer needs to customer fulfilment using technologies such as Al and RPA, towards improving Customer Experience, Lead Time, Quality and Agility
  • Employ technologies such as IoT and data analytics for real time process and user behaviours tracking to improve organisational agility within the rapidly changing business environments and customer preferences
  • Discuss the critical importance of employee engagement, human-centricity and change management as vital drivers for digital transformation

Assessment

As part of the requirement for SkillsFuture Singapore, there will be an assessment conducted at the end of the course. The mode of assessment, which is up to the trainer’s discretion, may be an online quiz, a group/ individual presentation or based on classroom exercises.

Participants are required to attain a minimum of 75% attendance and pass the associated assessment in order to receive a digital Certificate of Completion issued by Singapore Management University.

Calculate Programme Fee

Click here for more infomation about SkillsFuture Credits (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)
For PSEA - Available only for Singapore Citizen below 31 (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)

Total Program Fee: SGD0.00

Fee Table

COMPANY-SPONSORED

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

SELF-SPONSORED

SME

NON-SME

Singapore Citizen < 40 years old

Permanent Resident

LTVP+

$654

(After SSG Funding 70%)

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$654

(After SSG Funding 70%)

Singapore Citizen ≥ 40 years old

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

International Participant

$2,180

(No Funding)

$2,180

(No Funding)

$2,180

(No Funding)

All prices include 9% GST

Please note that the programme fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
PSEA can be utilised for subsidised programmes eligible for SkillsFuture Credit support. Click here to find out more.

Self Sponsored

SkillsFuture Credit

Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use their SkillsFuture Credits to pay for the course fees. The credits may be used on top of existing course fee funding.

This is only applicable to self-sponsored participants. Application to utilise SkillsFuture Credits can be submitted when making payment for the course via the SMU Academy TMS Portal, and can only be made within 60 days of course start date.

Please click here for more information on the SkillsFuture Credit. For help in submitting an SFC claim, you may wish to refer to our step-by-step guide on claiming SkillsFuture Credits (Individual).

Workfare Skills Support Scheme

From 1 July 2023, the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme has been enhanced. Please click here for more details.

Company Sponsored

Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

  • Organisation must be registered or incorporated in Singapore
  • Employment size of not more than 200 or with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million
  • Trainees must be hired in accordance with the Employment Act and fully sponsored by their employers for the course
  • Trainees must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
  • Trainees must not be a full-time national serviceman
  • Trainees are eligible for ETSS funding only if their company's SME status is approved prior to the course commencement date. To verify your SME's status, please click here. 

Please click here for more information on ETSS.

Absentee Payroll

Companies who sponsor their employees for the course may apply for Absentee Payroll here. For more information, please refer to:

AP Guide (Non-SME Companies)
Declaration Guide (SME Companies)

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Trainers

John Hamalian
Trainer; Consultant; Owner
Lean Enterprise Southeast Asia
John Hamalian
Trainer; Consultant; Owner
Lean Enterprise Southeast Asia
John has over 20 years of experience at General Motors and Dell, specialising in Lean Thinking and Agility, Innovation, Digital-Age Management, Strategy, Change Management, Transformation and Sustainable Organisational Development. With assignments based in the USA, China, Germany, Korea, India and Singapore, culminating in 2 Asia-Pacific Regional Director positions, John thrives in global and culturally-diverse environments. He is an adjunct lecturer at various universities; a published writer on Management, Leadership, Strategy and Asian culture; and an active speaker at Business Excellence conferences, global corporations and professional institutions. John is the founder of Sustainable Organisational Excellence and the Southeast Asia Representative for the Lean Global Network, offering consulting, coaching, facilitation, and training services. John holds an MBA from Fordham University and a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Kettering University.

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