Managing Successful Programmes – MSP Practitioner 2011

Special Notices

All delegates booking this course will need to purchase a copy of the new 2011 MSP Manual. This is available to buy - ISBN number: 9780113313273.

Overview

This two-day course provides participants with a thorough understanding of the Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Practitioner level examination, allowing participants to attempt the practitioner examination thoroughly prepared. The course includes the MSP practitioner examination.

This course will enable delegates to understand the examination requirements of the MSP practitioner examination, analyse the questions in the examination and the scenario given to gain the most information from it. They will understand how to best manage their time within the examination and understand the principles and structure of MSP. Delivered by fully accredited trainers and industry leading experts with extensive experience of using MSP, the course includes examples of the practitioner exam and walk through exercises of how to analyse and attempt the questions in them.

Prerequisites

• Delegates must have passed the MSP foundation examination.
• 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

Pre-course reading

• Delegates will be provided with pre-course reading material by email 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 696273 or info@qa.com

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.

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

Practitioner Preparation and Application of MSP
In preparation for the MSP Practitioner exam, delegates will undertake:

• An explanation of mechanics of the Practitioner examination, including the different styles of question within the 'Objective Test Examination' format
• Examination techniques
• Mock Practitioner questions on the application of MSP, using official sample exam papers
• Question and answer session
• Revision of major topics

Additional work will be required during evenings consisting of consolidation reading, mock examination questions and exercises. This evening work is an integral part of the course and delegates should expect to spend 2 hours each evening on these activities.

Examination

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.
• 2 and a half 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. By successfully passing the Practitioner exam, delegates attain 'Registered Practitioner' status.

MSP® is a Registered Trademark of the Cabinet Office