ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) is the strategy-level ITIL 4 module — the cornerstone of both the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader designations. It covers governance, strategic planning, organisational change and continual improvement at the level of running an IT function or service organisation.
At Nexperts, DPI is delivered as a 3-day intensive against MY-context governance scenarios — a banking IT modernisation, a GLC organisational redesign and a regulator-driven control overhaul. By day 3 you've drafted three strategy artefacts that you can take back to your CIO.
DPI is the cert that filters service managers from service strategists. The exam tests strategic thinking, organisational change and the discipline to take a 5-year view — not just the next sprint.
The 2026 update broadened the focus on OKR-led ITSM, AI-augmented governance, and ESG / sustainability strategy. We cover all three with hands-on strategy workshops.
Who should take this course
🔐
CIO office staff
Owning IT strategy. DPI is the formal language.
⚙️
Service-portfolio leads
Designing service strategy. DPI raises competence and credibility.
👨💼
ITSM transformation leads
Selling and running multi-year transformations for MY enterprises.
🌟
ITIL 4 Foundation + Specialist holders
Natural progression to Strategist tier.
💼
CIOs / IT directors
Owning multi-year IT strategy. DPI sharpens the operating model.
📚
Audit / governance leads
Owning IT control maturity. DPI integrates governance with delivery.
Prerequisites
✓ ITIL 4 Foundation (mandatory)
✓ Working knowledge of strategic planning concepts
✓ Comfortable with workshops and stakeholder facilitation
✓ Familiarity with continual improvement methodologies (CSI, kaizen) helpful
→ Don't have ITIL 4 Foundation? Ask about our Foundation → DPI bundle.
Course Curriculum
Five domains. One IT-strategy toolkit.
DPI covers Strategy & Direction, Risk & Compliance, Continual Improvement, Communication & Organisational Change Management, and Measurement & Reporting. We deliver workshop-first — you draft strategy artefacts on real cases.
Hands-On Strategy Workshops
9 sprints. Real strategy artefacts.
DPI is delivered through strategy workshops. By day 3 you've drafted three strategy artefacts you can take back to your CIO or executive sponsor.
01
OKR Cascade
Cascade strategy from CEO objectives to team-level OKRs.
Strategy
02
Governance Map
Design a governance model for a 200-person IT org with 5 domains.
Governance
03
Risk-Led Governance
Map risk-led governance for a BNM RMiT-compliant bank.
Risk
04
CSI Cycle
Run a 7-step CSI cycle on a service-improvement initiative.
CSI
05
OCM Plan
Design an OCM plan for a major service transformation.
OCM
06
ESG Strategy
Add ESG / sustainability dimension to an IT-portfolio strategy.
ESG
07
CIO Dashboard
Design a CIO dashboard for a complex MY estate.
Reporting
08
Capability Roadmap
Draft a 24-month capability-building roadmap for an IT function.
Capability
09
Tailoring Decisions
Tailor ITIL 4 + Agile + DevOps for a regulated MY bank.
Tailoring
+ 8 micro-tasks across cascading templates, OKR sheets, OCM plans and dashboards.
Exam Information
One exam. Strategy + scenario.
ITIL 4 Strategist DPI is a 90-minute exam with 40 questions. Heavy on strategy + scenario items — 'You're CIO of X, what do you direct?'. Most candidates fail on OCM scenarios.
ITIL 4 Strategist: DPI Exam
Questions40 (scenario + case study)
Duration90 minutes
Passing score70% (28/40)
FormatPeopleCert online proctored
Validity3 years (renewable with PDUs)
Industry avg pass rate~67% first attempt
Nexperts pass rate90% first attempt
OCM Scenario Drill
Drill length3-hour structured drill
FormatWhiteboard — you decide, peers challenge
Items practised12 OCM and strategy scenarios
Common gotchasKotter vs ADKAR vs Prosci
StrategyRead resistance source first
OutcomeOCM-question uplift +21%
WalkthroughPast scenario archive provided
Our 3-Mock Programme
01
Diagnostic Mock
End of day 1. Sets the baseline. Average 56%.
02
Strategy-Heavy Mock
Mid-course. 60% strategy items. Average 70%.
03
Final Clearance
Full timed simulation. 80%+ before we book. Average 82%.
0%
Pass Rate
90% of our ITIL 4 DPI candidates pass on first attempt.
The PeopleCert global first-attempt rate for ITIL 4 DPI sits around 67%. We hit 90% by spending 70% of class time on real strategy artefacts and gating booking on a clearance mock.
MY strategy case studiesOCM drill90% first attemptFree retake voucherCIO-grade artefacts
Why our pass rate is 90%
Industry average: ~67%
Most candidates know the OCM models but freeze on real-context scenarios. The exam asks 'CEO is sceptical of the change — what do you do?' and they pick by feature recall.
Nexperts: 90%
We design real OCM plans every day. We coach on resistance management. By exam day, strategy thinking is reflex.
Your ITIL 4 Path
DPI is the cornerstone module.
DPI is the cornerstone module — it counts toward both the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader designations. Pair with CDS + DSV + HVIT for MP, or with DITS for SL.
