A tailored course, built for your situation
Standing invitation to vendor review sessions
How to lead vendor selection with confidence using ISO 20000 as your anchor
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Who this is for
Mid-level IT and compliance practitioners in consulting roles who are beginning to engage in vendor evaluation and service management governance
Who this is not for
Executives seeking board-level summaries or professionals outside IT service management frameworks
What you walk away with
- Lead vendor review sessions with structured confidence
- Apply ISO 20000 criteria to real-world service provider assessments
- Anticipate and respond to technical due diligence questions
- Build consensus across internal stakeholders using framework-backed reasoning
- Position yourself as a reference point in sourcing decisions
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Mapping vendor proposals to ISO 20000 clauses
Learn how to align vendor documentation with specific ISO 20000 requirements to identify gaps early and assess compliance depth.
12 chapters in this module
- Clause 4 context analysis
- Service provider scope verification
- Documented information checks
- Vendor self-assessment critique
- Gap evidence collection
- Compliance maturity indicators
- Third-party audit alignment
- External provider mapping
- Contractual clause alignment
- Service level agreement links
- Performance metric validity
- Evidence readiness scoring
Module 2. Designing vendor evaluation scorecards
Build custom scorecards grounded in ISO 20000 that prioritise operational fit over marketing claims.
12 chapters in this module
- Weighting framework criteria
- Objective vs subjective scoring
- Scoring consistency rules
- Cross-comparison normalization
- Risk-adjusted scoring
- Stakeholder input integration
- Threshold setting for disqualifiers
- Benchmarking against peers
- Transparency in scoring rationale
- Documentation standards
- Review cycle timing
- Feedback loop integration
Module 3. Facilitating technical trade-off discussions
Develop the language and reasoning to guide teams through trade-offs between cost, compliance, and capability.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying hidden assumptions
- Cost vs control trade-off framing
- Long-term TCO thinking
- Compliance depth prioritization
- Service continuity risks
- Scalability traps
- Integration effort estimation
- Support model scrutiny
- Update frequency analysis
- Exit strategy clarity
- Knowledge transfer planning
- Transition risk scoring
Module 4. Structuring vendor onboarding playbooks
Turn vendor selection outcomes into repeatable onboarding processes aligned with ISO 20000 expectations.
12 chapters in this module
- Onboarding timeline design
- Milestone ownership assignment
- Kickoff meeting agenda
- Knowledge transfer checklist
- Access provisioning workflow
- Compliance documentation collection
- Initial audit planning
- SLA monitoring setup
- Performance review cadence
- Issue escalation paths
- Reporting expectations
- First-year review plan
Module 5. Leading cross-functional review meetings
Run effective sessions that incorporate input from legal, security, finance, and operations while maintaining focus on ISO 20000 alignment.
12 chapters in this module
- Agenda design for clarity
- Stakeholder role mapping
- Decision log maintenance
- Conflict de-escalation tactics
- Voting vs consensus models
- Action item tracking
- Meeting rhythm design
- Pre-read best practices
- Presentation slide standards
- Vendor participation rules
- Minutes approval workflow
- Follow-up cadence
Module 6. Crafting vendor risk narratives
Build compelling, evidence-based stories about vendor risk that resonate with technical and non-technical audiences.
12 chapters in this module
- Risk context framing
- ISO 20000 clause linkage
- Evidence citation format
- Likelihood vs impact scaling
- Historical precedent use
- Mitigation strategy articulation
- Residual risk clarification
- Escalation thresholds
- Stakeholder-specific messaging
- Visual risk mapping
- Narrative consistency
- Executive summary drafting
Module 7. Auditing third-party service reports
Critically assess vendor-produced SOC 2, ISO 20000, and internal audit reports for completeness and validity.
12 chapters in this module
- Report scope verification
- Testing procedure scrutiny
- Control operating effectiveness
- Exception explanation depth
- Management response quality
- Remediation timeline realism
- Attestation body reputation
- Regulatory alignment checks
- Cross-report consistency
- Historical trend analysis
- Peer comparison baselines
- Red flags checklist
Module 8. Negotiating control implementation timelines
Advocate for realistic yet firm timelines for vendors to close identified control gaps.
12 chapters in this module
- Gap severity classification
- Implementation complexity factors
- Resource dependency mapping
- Vendor capacity assessment
- Milestone definition
- Progress verification methods
- Penalty clause design
- Escalation triggers
- Communication frequency
- Status reporting expectations
- Third-party validation
- Contingency planning
Module 9. Integrating vendor performance into internal audits
Ensure vendor performance is part of ongoing internal audit cycles and continuous improvement efforts.
12 chapters in this module
- Audit scope inclusion rules
- Evidence collection workflows
- Sampling methodology
- Finding severity classification
- Corrective action tracking
- Management response expectations
- Trend identification
- Benchmarking against standards
- Cross-vendor comparisons
- Reporting to internal stakeholders
- Audit follow-up timing
- Continuous monitoring setup
Module 10. Building reusable assessment templates
Create standardised, adaptable tools that reduce effort across future vendor evaluations.
12 chapters in this module
- Template scope definition
- Modular design principles
- Version control system
- Stakeholder feedback loop
- Approval workflow setup
- Centralised storage
- Searchability features
- Integration with project tools
- Training materials
- Usage tracking
- Continuous improvement cycle
- Retirement criteria
Module 11. Developing escalation protocols
Define clear paths for elevating unresolved vendor issues while maintaining professionalism and control.
12 chapters in this module
- Issue classification
- Initial response expectations
- Escalation threshold criteria
- Stakeholder notification rules
- Executive summary format
- Resolution tracking
- Legal team involvement
- Contractual clause referencing
- Communication tone guidelines
- Documentation standards
- Post-resolution review
- Pattern recognition
Module 12. Establishing vendor review leadership
Transition from participant to recognised leader in vendor evaluation across engagements.
12 chapters in this module
- Personal brand positioning
- Internal thought leadership
- Mentorship opportunities
- Cross-project influence
- Framework advocacy
- Stakeholder trust building
- Visibility in strategic planning
- Speaking up in ambiguity
- Decision ownership
- Feedback reception
- Continuous learning commitment
- Recognition pathways
How this maps to your situation
- Evaluating a new cloud service provider
- Onboarding a managed IT service vendor
- Assessing a software update support contract
- Reviewing an outsourcing proposal
Before vs. after
Before
Invited to vendor reviews but reacting to others' frameworks and questions
After
Leading the session with a clear, structured approach grounded in ISO 20000
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: Approximately 3 hours per week over 12 weeks, with self-paced access.
If nothing changes
Continuing to participate without shaping the conversation risks being seen as a note-taker rather than a decision influencer, limiting growth into strategic advisory roles.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic compliance courses, this program focuses on actionable vendor review leadership using ISO 20000 as a practical anchor, not just theoretical knowledge.
Frequently asked
Is this course specific to ITIL or service management consulting?
It is built around ISO 20000 and applies to practitioners involved in vendor assessment, regardless of consulting background.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will I receive a certification upon completion?
No formal certification is awarded, but you’ll gain a personalised implementation playbook and mastery of real-world vendor review leadership.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3 hours per week over 12 weeks, with self-paced access..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours