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ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan & Improve

The “universal” ITIL 4 module — it counts toward BOTH the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader designations. DPI gives you the practical skills to direct, plan and continually improve IT and digital services, with the right governance and controls. Builds on ITIL 4 Foundation.

Enrol Now — £595
Duration
3–6 weeks
Format
100% online
Pass mark
70% to pass
Access
12 months

About this qualification

What Is ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve?

A core ITIL 4 module that bridges the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader streams — the practical skills to set direction, plan, govern and continually improve digital services.

The qualification explained

ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) is a core ITIL 4 module from PeopleCert that bridges the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader streams. It is the one module that counts toward both designations, which is why it’s often described as the “universal” ITIL 4 module.

The module covers setting strategy and direction, planning, governance, risk management, continual improvement, organisational change management, and measurement and reporting. You learn how to create an effective IT operating model, align teams and services with organisational strategy, and build continual improvement into the way you work.

DPI builds on the foundations of ITIL 4. Your prerequisite is ITIL 4 Foundation — once you hold it, DPI equips you to direct and govern services with the controls senior stakeholders expect, whether you sit in IT service management, a PMO, or a leadership role.

40
multiple-choice questions in the official DPI exam
MP + SL
counts toward both the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader designations
70%
pass mark — 28 out of 40 questions
PeopleCert
the official body that owns and awards the ITIL 4 qualification

Is this for me?

This Course Is for You If…

DPI suits IT and digital professionals who direct, plan and improve services — and anyone progressing toward the Managing Professional or Strategic Leader designation.

IT & Service Managers

Responsible for IT and digital services and the controls, governance and direction that keep them aligned to strategy.

Aspiring IT Leaders

Building the strategic and governance skills needed to move into senior IT and digital leadership roles.

ITIL Foundation Holders

Already hold ITIL 4 Foundation and want to progress toward the Managing Professional or Strategic Leader designation.

Continual Improvement & Change Leads

Driving continual improvement or organisational change and want a structured method for directing and measuring it.

PMO & Governance Staff

Working in a PMO or governance function and want to apply direction, planning and controls to service delivery.

ITSM Pros Progressing to MP or SL

IT service management professionals working toward the Managing Professional or Strategic Leader designation.

Course structure & curriculum

What You’ll Learn — Module by Module

The course is structured across 7 modules, building your knowledge progressively — from the key concepts of DPI through to exam preparation. Total study time is approximately 25–30 hours.

Introduction & Key Concepts of DPI
What DPI covers · Where it fits in ITIL 4 · Key concepts of direction, planning & improvement · The MP and SL designations
~3 hrs
Scoping, Direction & Governance
Defining scope of control · Cascading goals & requirements · Governance, risk & compliance · The role of direction
~4 hrs
Planning & Decision-Making
Effective planning · Value streams & practices · Decision-making & risk management · The IT operating model
~4 hrs
Continual Improvement
The continual improvement model · Methods & techniques · Embedding improvement · Assessment & gap analysis
~4 hrs
Organisational Change Management
Building & sustaining change · Communication & engagement · Reinforcing change · Overcoming resistance
~4 hrs
Measurement, Reporting & Controls
Measurement & metrics · Reporting for decision-making · Indicator & metric cascades · Establishing controls
~3 hrs
Exam Preparation & Practice Papers
Exam technique · Full-length practice exam papers · Weak-area review · Final revision checklist
~4 hrs

All learning outcomes covered

Defining the scope of control and direction

Cascading goals and requirements through the organisation

Governance, risk and compliance (GRC)

The role of policies, controls and guidelines

Risk management and decision-making

Effective planning and the IT operating model

Value streams and practices in planning

The continual improvement model

Continual improvement methods and techniques

Assessment, gap analysis and embedding improvement

Organisational change management

Communication and stakeholder engagement

Measurement, metrics and indicator cascades

Reporting to support decision-making

Establishing and maintaining effective controls

What’s included

Everything You Need to Succeed

Each course includes the materials, practice, and support you need to learn the syllabus properly and walk into the exam ready.

12 Months Course Access

Full access to all accredited course materials for 12 months. Study on any device, online 24/7. Never lose your progress.

Official PeopleCert Exam Included

Your official PeopleCert DPI exam is included in the price — there’s nothing extra to buy. We book it for you when you’re ready to sit it.

Exam details →

Built-In AI Tutor

An AI-powered tutor built right into your course — ask it anything, any time, and get clear, instant explanations of tricky topics 24/7.

Meet your AI tutor →

Account Manager Support

A dedicated account manager to guide you through the course, arrange your exam booking, and answer your questions along the way.

Certificate & Digital Badge

On completion, receive a verifiable digital badge and certificate to share directly on LinkedIn and your CV.

Shareable & verifiable →

14-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Enrol with confidence. If the course isn’t right for you, let us know within 14 days for a full refund — no quibble.

In practice

DPI in the Real World

The same skills apply across every major UK sector. See how Direct, Plan and Improve works in practice.

NHS & Public Sector

Directing an IT service improvement programme across an NHS Trust

An NHS Trust used the DPI approach to set clear direction for its IT services, cascading organisational goals down to service teams and defining the governance and controls each service had to meet. With a structured continual improvement model in place, the IT function could identify, prioritise and measure improvements rather than reacting to incidents in isolation.

DPI in action By establishing a metrics cascade — linking service-level indicators to the Trust’s strategic goals — leadership could report on improvement progress at board level, and decisions about where to invest were grounded in evidence rather than anecdote.

Technology & Software

Building a continual improvement culture in a scaling SaaS business

A fast-growing SaaS company applied DPI to bring structure to its service strategy as it scaled. Organisational change management techniques helped engage teams as new ways of working were introduced, while clear governance and risk controls gave senior stakeholders confidence that growth would not outrun the company’s ability to manage it.

DPI in action When a new platform capability was rolled out, the continual improvement model ensured each release was assessed against measurable indicators — so the team improved deliberately rather than guessing what to change next.

Financial Services

Governance and controls for IT services in a regulated firm

A financial services firm used DPI to strengthen the governance, risk and compliance layer around its IT services. Direction was set from strategy and cascaded into clear policies and controls, while planning aligned services to the firm’s regulatory obligations. Measurement and reporting gave the risk committee the assurance it needed.

DPI in action When a new regulatory requirement landed, the firm’s controls framework meant the impact could be assessed quickly and the right reporting put in place — turning a compliance change into a managed, measurable improvement.

Exam details

About the ITIL 4 Strategist: DPI Exam

Your official exam is included in the course price and is sat online via PeopleCert. You’ll need ITIL 4 Foundation as a prerequisite. When you’re ready, simply contact your account manager — we’ll arrange the booking for you.

Questions
40
Format
Multiple choice
Pass mark
28 / 40(70%)
Duration
90 minutes
Type
Closed book
Prerequisite
ITIL 4 Foundation

What to Expect on Exam Day

You sit the exam online through PeopleCert’s remote proctoring platform. Here’s the full process, from booking to results.

Booking

When you feel ready, contact your account manager. We handle the booking with PeopleCert and confirm your exam date, time, and joining instructions — usually within 5–10 working days.

Equipment required

You need a laptop or desktop computer (not a mobile or tablet), a working webcam and microphone, and a stable internet connection.

On the day

Log in 15 minutes before your scheduled start. The invigilator will verify your identity using photo ID and ask you to scan your room. The 90-minute timer then begins. No notes or materials are permitted — the exam is closed book.

Results

You get a provisional pass or fail result as soon as you finish. Your official PeopleCert certificate follows within a few working days and is added to PeopleCert’s register of successful candidates.

Rescheduling

If you need to reschedule, contact us at least 48 hours before your exam time. We will arrange a new date at no additional charge.

Student reviews

What Our Students Say

4.8

1,247 verified reviews

The majority of students pass first time, based on an internal student survey conducted in May 2026.

5★
80%
4★
15%
3★
5%
2★
0%
1★
0%
Review from Trustpilot
Dominic
I have recently booked the PRINCE2 certification. The process was made extremely easy for me with the help of Lanie, who was the account manager I spoke with. My questions were answered within minutes and the process was sped up thanks to Lanie.
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I had a fantastic experience with Career Smarter from start to finish. Before enrolling on the CompTIA A+ course, they took the time to explain everything clearly, including what was included in the package and how the learning would work. I never felt rushed or pressured into making a decision, which I really appreciated.

They also showed me another training package that could be useful if I decide to continue my learning in the future, but there was absolutely no hard sell or constant follow-up. They simply gave me the information and left the decision entirely up to me, which made me feel much more comfortable.

To top it off, they offered me a discount, which was a lovely bonus.

The customer service has been excellent, they're knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely helpful. Based on my experience so far, I would highly recommend Career Smarter to anyone looking to start or develop a career in IT.

Thank you Lanie for top customer service!
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Career Growth Path

Where This Qualification Takes You

DPI is a strategic step up. See the leadership roles it supports — and the ITIL 4 qualifications that take you further.

ITIL 4 Foundation

Prerequisite

ITIL 4 Strategist: DPI

£50k–£68k avg.

You are here

IT Service / Improvement Manager

£58k–£75k avg.

Head of ITSM

£70k–£90k avg.

IT Director

£90k–£120k avg.

DPI builds the strategy, governance and improvement leadership skills employers look for in senior IT roles
DPI counts toward both the ITIL 4 Managing Professional and Strategic Leader designations

Recommended next certifications

→ Build the strategy (Strategic Leader)

ITIL® 4 Leader: Digital & IT Strategy

Together with DPI, this completes the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader designation — shaping digital strategy at the top of the organisation.

£70k–£100kLearn more →
 → Create & deliver

ITIL® 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver & Support

One of the four Managing Professional modules — the core of building and running effective digital services.

£50k–£72kLearn more →
 → Engage stakeholders

ITIL® 4 Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value

A Managing Professional module covering every type of engagement and interaction between a provider and its customers.

£50k–£70kLearn more →
 → Start here if you haven’t

ITIL® 4 Foundation

The entry point and prerequisite for DPI. Start here if you don’t yet hold ITIL 4 Foundation.

£35k–£50kLearn more →

DPI together with ITIL 4 Leader: Digital & IT Strategy completes the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader designation. DPI is also one of the four modules that make up the ITIL 4 Managing Professional designation — which is why it counts toward both.

Pricing

Simple, Transparent Pricing

One course. Everything included. No hidden extras.

ITIL 4 Strategist: DPI — Sale Price

£695 £595 inc. VAT Save £100

Everything you need to gain your ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve certificate — official PeopleCert exam included, no extras to buy.

Official PeopleCert DPI Exam
PeopleCert accredited — we arrange the booking
12 Months Course Access
Study anytime, on any device, 24/7
Built-In AI Tutor
24/7 AI help while you study
Account Manager Support
A dedicated contact from enrolment to exam
Certificate & Digital Badge
Share on LinkedIn immediately on completion
14-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Enrol with complete confidence

Finance available at checkout · 14-day money-back guarantee

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From £37.82/month

CAREER SMARTER LTD is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Social Money Limited t/a Payl8r who is authorised by the FCA under Ref. Number 675283. Credit is subject to creditworthiness and affordability assessments. Missed payments may affect your credit file, future borrowing and incur fees. Representative Example: £440.00 over 12 months at 2.50% fixed per month. Rep APR 65.5%. Monthly: £47.67. Total repayable: £572.04. 0% interest rate applies only where the loan is repaid in full within 3 months.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before you enrol.

Do I need ITIL 4 Foundation first?

Yes. ITIL 4 Foundation is the prerequisite for ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve. You'll need to hold ITIL 4 Foundation before you sit the DPI exam. If you don't have it yet, start with our ITIL 4 Foundation course.

Is the exam included?

Yes. Your official PeopleCert DPI exam is included in the course price — there's nothing extra to buy. When you're ready, your account manager arranges the booking and you sit the exam online via PeopleCert's remote proctoring platform.

Is this qualification recognised?

Absolutely. ITIL 4 is the world's most widely adopted IT service management framework, owned and awarded by PeopleCert. When you pass, you receive an official PeopleCert certificate recognised by employers worldwide and verifiable on PeopleCert's register of successful candidates.

How long does the course take?

Most students complete the course in 3–6 weeks studying around 1–2 hours per day, with roughly 25–30 hours of study time in total. There is no time limit — you have 12 months access, so you can study at whatever pace suits your lifestyle.

Does this count toward MP and SL?

Yes — both. DPI is the one module that counts toward both designations. It is one of the four modules in the ITIL 4 Managing Professional (MP) designation, and together with ITIL 4 Leader: Digital & IT Strategy it completes the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader (SL) designation.

How does finance at checkout work?

At checkout you can choose flexible finance options to spread the cost. You'll gain immediate full access to all course materials as soon as your first payment is confirmed.

Start Today

Direct, plan &
improve IT.

Join the UK professionals who chose Career Smarter. Flexible, affordable, and fully recognised by PeopleCert.

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