APMG International Project Planning and Control Foundation

This three day event introduce delegates to effective project planning and control. Effective planning and control requires an understanding of a clear project definition, supported by a robust approach to planning the project. This, in turn requires the selection and use of appropriate scheduling techniques which are supported by rigorous monitoring for effective proactive control. A sound basis for effective record keeping will facilitate the understanding of lessons learned which supports continuous improvement, thus adding value to organisational aspirations and objectives.

All relevant course materials are provided, which includes the APM Planning, Scheduling, Monitoring and Control Manual and the APMG Project Planning & Control Foundation Examination.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are necessary for attendance, although delegates would benefit from some experience and understanding of basic planning principles and terminology.

Delegates will learn and understand:

• The approaches and products used to gain a clear definition of a project
• The approaches and techniques used to plan and close a project
• The selection and use of appropriate scheduling techniques
• The practices used for rigorous monitoring to enable proactive control of the project
• The basis for good record keeping, which also facilitates the virtuous feedback and learning cycle.

The course uses QA's unique multimedia case-studies and accelerated-learning techniques to ensure that theory is embedded and delegates feel confident in the practical application of learning points. Additional evening work will be required in the form of consolidation reading and mock examination questions. The evening work is an integral part of the course and delegates should expect to spend approximately two hours on these activities each evening. The evening work is aimed at helping effective preparation for the examination.

The course will cover the following syllabus areas:

DEFINITION (DE)

Delegates are introduced to the world of projects and capital expenditure. The following key areas are covered:

• Key definitions and concepts associated with Planning and Control
• Hierarchical Breakdown Structures - WBS, OBS, CBS, RBS
• Purpose of the Business Case
• Purpose of Scope Management, Requirements Management and Stakeholder Management
• Purpose and composition of the Works Information and Statement of Work

PLANNING (PL)

The following areas will be discussed:

• Facts, terms and concepts for: Planning, handover and closeout
• Purpose and benefits of successful planning
• Differences between Planning and Scheduling; Funding and Budgets
• Planning approaches and influencing factors for: top-down, bottom-up and rolling wave planning
• Purpose, characteristics and relationship and use of Breakdown Structures
• Approaches and principles of designing Breakdown Structures
• Purpose of the Work Package, WBS Dictionary and RACI Matrix
• Purpose of Dependency Management, cost estimating, budgeting and budget transfers

SCHEDULING (SC)

The following areas will be discussed:

• The definition and elements of scheduling
• Definition of key network analysis terms
• The three identified methods of presenting the results of scheduling
• Typical features associated with schedule density
• Purpose of different types of time phased schedules, including
• Purpose and use of key elements of schedule design
• Key features of the Precedence Diagram Method (PDM) for determining a critical path and the inputs into a Critical Path Analysis (CPA)
• Use and features of different methods of estimating durations
• Types of resources and the purpose of resourcing the schedule
• Typical composition of a Schedule Narrative
• Purpose and scope of Schedule Reviews
• Steps in the scheduling process and steps to prepare for monitoring and control
• The five steps necessary to construct a network, together with the activities of each

MONITOR AND CONTROL (MC)

The following areas will be discussed:

• Definition of Earned Value Analysis (EVA) and its basic terminology
• Definitions of key monitoring terms
• Definitions of key risk management terms
• Definitions of key change management terms
• Purpose and use of a project baseline
• Purpose and use of Baseline maintenance and Change management together with the principles of change management and why change control is needed
• Purpose and use of performance reporting and features of a good control system
• Characteristics of Variance Analysis Methods of Progress Monitoring
• Characteristics of Performance Analysis Methods of Progress
• Monitoring, specifically the use of Network Analysis and measurement of float usage
• The purpose of Short-term Planning, its four key elements, and how it should be linked to project schedules

Exams and Assessments

APM / APMG - Project Planning & Control Foundation Examination

Key exam information:

• 40 minutes long
• Closed book
• 50 multiple-choice questions
• 50% pass mark

Throughout the Project Planning & Control Foundation Course, delegates will be exposed to numerous examples of examination questions. A number of exercises and 'question-and-answer' sessions that will help to consolidate the learning are undertaken, thereby ensuring that delegates are more than adequately prepared for the exam.