Managing Successful Programmes – MSP Foundation and Practitioner 2011

Overview

This five-day course provides participants with a thorough understanding of the internationally recognised and best practice programme management methodology Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), providing the skills needed to confidently use MSP to manage programmes in line with strategic aims of a business and its day to day running.

By the end of this learning, delegates will have the skills to be able to identify and document the vision of a programme, thus aligning it to the strategic aims of the business. They will also be able to coordinate the projects of a programme to ensure the correct application of resources and risk, issue and change management. Delegates will be able to interface the programme with the day to day business to ensure the smooth transition of changes delivered by a programme into business as usual activity and ensure that the benefits that the programme was designed to deliver are achieved.

Prerequisites

Delegates should ideally have experience of managing or working in programmes prior to attending. Knowledge of the PRINCE2® project management method is advantageous but by no means mandatory, but some exposure to a project management method will aid understanding of how the programme works with these projects. Equally, anyone wishing to attain industry-leading programme management qualifications should attend these courses.

Delegates will be provided with pre-course reading material prior to attending the course. This pre-reading provides a mixture of theory, sample questions and application of MSP to a programme situation. Success on the course will be enhanced by close attention to the pre-reading materials so it is recommended that delegates spend approximately 10 hours working through the pre-reading. If you have not received your pre-reading material within one week of the start of your course, please contact your Account Manager or the QA Examination Administration team on 44 (0)1793 696162 or info@qa.com

• Delegates will be presented with the official MSP manual: 'Managing Successful Programmes' on the first day of the course.

Please note: You must bring signed photo ID with you on any APMG exam (passport, driving licence, student card) as you will be asked to produce it by the invigilator prior to the exam. You must also be familiar with the APMG Terms and Conditions of Certification which can be found here on the APMG International website

Delegates will learn how to

• know facts, terms and concepts relating to each theme
• understand how each governance theme relates to the principles
• understand the approach to the treatment of each governance theme
• appreciate how each governance theme is applied throughout the transformational flow
• understand the responsibilities involved in each governance theme
• apply and tailor the relevant aspects of each governance theme to a scenario, when creating or reviewing products or making decisions related to each theme, in any or all of the processes
• identify, analyse and distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate application of each governance theme throughout a programme scenario
• practitioner preparation and application of MSP

Course Outline.

MSP philosophy and structure

• What is a programme and how it differs to both business as usual and project work
• Relationship between the MSP principles, governance themes and the transformational flow.

The 7 MSP principles

• Remaining aligned with corporate strategy
• Leading change
• Envisioning and communicating a better future
• Focusing on benefits and threats to them
• Adding value
• Designing and delivering a coherent capability
• Learning from experience

The 9 MSP governance themes

• Organisation
• Vision
• Leadership and stakeholder engagement
• Benefits management
• Blueprint design and delivery
• Planning and control
• Business case
• Risk and issue management
• Quality and assurance management

The 6 MSP® Transformational Flow Processes

• Identifying a programme
• Defining a programme
• Managing the tranche
• Delivering the capability
• Realising the benefits
• Closing a programme

Examinations

All delegates will sit the MSP foundation and practitioner examination during the course.

The MSP Foundation exam consists of:

• 75 multiple choice questions
• 1 hour
• Closed-book
• Candidates require a minimum of 35 correct answers (50%) to pass.

The MSP Practitioner examination takes place at the end of the course, usually on the morning of the last day. The MSP Practitioner exam consists of:

• 8 questions, each worth 10 marks each. Total of 80 marks
• 'Objective Test Examination' format - a style of complex multiple-choice examination.
• 2½ hours duration
• Delegates may use their official MSP manual: 'Managing Successful Programmes' only
• Candidates require a minimum of 40 marks (50%) to pass

Please note that candidates must pass the foundation exam before attempting the practitioner exam and by successfully passing the practitioner exam, delegates attain 'Registered Practitioner' status.

PRINCE2® is a Registered Trademark of the Cabinet Office
MSP® is a Registered Trademark of the Cabinet Office

Related training courses

• Finance for Non-Financial Managers
• Agile Project Management
• Managing Successful Programmes - MSP® Advanced Practitioner Examination Workshop 2011