MSP® Foundation Classroom Course (with official exam)

Hudson have partnered with SPOCE (an APMG fully Accredited Training Organisation – ATO) to bring you this MSP® Foundation classroom course. Delivered by fully qualified and accredited trainers.
 
Overview
 
Officially launched in 1999, “Managing Successful Programmes” (MSP®) is a guide that provides and maintains a strategic view over the set of projects, aligning and co-ordinating them within a programme of business change in support of specific business strategies.
 
Who is the course designed for?
 
Any organisation or individual seeing the need for a controlled approach to managing its programmes. The event is suitable for programme managers, experienced project managers, programme support team members and senior managers from any discipline.
 
The Managing Successful Programmes method is flexible and adaptable for any type and size of programme where a business “vision” is the required outcome.
 
What are the course objectives?
 
The key objectives of this course are:
 

• Provide Delegates with an understanding of the benefits and principles underlying a structured approach to programme management.
• Apply the principles of MSP® to programmes within a work environment.
• Operate effectively with colleagues and managers within a structured programme and project management environment.
• Enable delegates to understand the MSP® framework to be prepared to sit the APM Group/OGC MSP® Foundation exam.

 
What is the course approach?
 
The course is a mixture of input and practical sessions, delivered by an APM Group approved trainer with practical experience of programme management.
 
The pre-course material includes SPOCE’s highly acclaimed event preparation CD, accompanied with a pre-course reading guide. Delegates should spend approximately 10 hours studying this pre-course material in order to be well prepared for the course.
 
Due to the intense nature of this course, delegates should plan to commit approximately 1 hour each evening during the course for study and review.
 
SPOCE’s flexible approach to the management of the course means that delegates can choose to return at a later date to complete the Practitioner Exam if they so wish. There will be no further learning required to complete the Practitioner Exam.
 
What examinations are taken on the course?
 
Foundation: 1-hour, closed book exam consisting of 75 multiple-choice questions.

What does the course cover?
 
This three-day course covers the MSP Foundation syllabus, including the following topics:
 
MSP® Introduction and Overview – What is a programme? What is programme management? Terminology? Structure of MSP®
 
MSP® Framework and Concepts – Principles, governance themes, transformational flow, management strategies and plans.
 
Vision – What is a ‘vision’? What makes a good Vision Statement?Identifying a Programme; Programme Mandate. Linking to Policy and Strategy. Preparing a Programme Brief. Planning to Define the Programme.
 
Blueprint Design and Delivery – What is a Blueprint, and what does it contain? Developing a Blueprint from the Vision Statement.
 
Defining a Programme – Creating a Programme Definition Document (including the Project Dossier, the Programme Plan and the Programme Business Case).
 
Planning and Control – What is a Programme Plan and how is it developed? The Project Dossier. Resourcing and scheduling.
 
Benefits Realisation Management – The key driver for the programme. How benefits realisation links to achieving strategic objectives. Outcome relationship models and Benefit Maps. Planning for benefits realisation.
 
Organisation and the Programme Office – Organisation and leadership. Organisational structure, the key roles and their responsibilities; What is a Programme Office and what service does it provide.
 
The Business Case – Developing, managing and reviewing the programme’s Business Case.
 
Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement – Leadership as opposed to management. How ‘leaders’ actively engage stakeholders. Analysing and engaging with stakeholders. Stakeholder maps and matrices.
 
Managing the Tranches – Implementing governance arrangements. Establishing tranches. Managing risks and issues.
 
Delivering the Capability and Realising the Benefits – Co-ordinating and managing projects on the Project Dossier. Starting and closing projects. Maintaining alignment with the programme; Ensuring that project outputs are fit for purpose and can be integrated into operations, so that benefits can be realised. Pre-transition, transition and post-transition activities.
 
Quality Management – Critical Success Factors. The scope of programme quality management. Quality processes. Configuration Management. Quality Management Strategy and Plan. Information Management Strategy and Plan.
 
Risk Management and Issue Resolution – Principles, approach and strategy for managing risks and resolving issues; Managing and controlling changes in programmes.
 
Closing a Programme – Formal confirmation of completion. Finalising programme information. Confirming closure.
 
Practical Work – A specially written scenario runs throughout the course from start to finish. A comprehensive set of tasks help provide a practical application. There are also sample exam questions for delegates to practice before sitting the Foundation exam.
 
What course materials are included?
 

• Event Preparation CD
• SPOCE’s highly acclaimed event preparation CD is available to everyone attending this event. Delegates should spend approximately 10 hours studying this pre-course material in order to be well prepared for the course.
• MSP ® Manual
• The official MSP® Guidance, sent with the pre-course materials.

 
Course Handouts
 

• MSP Pre-Course Reading Guide – This provides clear direction to delegates on what to read and do prior to attending the course. This is sent with your pre-course materials.
• MSP Foundation Handout – Provided during the course, this handout includes the tasks used in the course, a copy of the slides used by the trainer, and the APMG sample foundation exam paper.

 
Foundation Exam
 
The 1 Hour APMG Foundation Exam is held on day three at 4pm. Results will be available within 30 minutes of the end of the exam.
 
Class Dates and Locations
 
Please contact us for available dates and times for the preferred month and location you would like to take the class in.
 
Venue Details
 
All courses include refreshments, Complementary lunch provided on courses outside London. Onsite accommodation is available at additional cost (except London) on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Optional accommodation can be added when making a booking.
 
MSP® Foundation classroom courses are run in association with SPOCE Project Management Limited (an ATO – Accredited Training Organisation).