PRINCE2® Project, Programme, Portfolio Office Management Foundation and Practitioner (formerly P3O)

The PRINCE2 Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices guidance provides advice, supported by discussion and examples, on how to develop a governance structure that helps optimise an organisation's investment in change alongside its business-as-usual work.

This Foundation and Practitioner course comprises five days of trainer led instruction. The course will provide delegates with a comprehensive and applied understanding of best practice PMO advice and prepare delegates for both Foundation and Practitioner Certificate examinations.

Prerequisites

• Delegates need to have worked in a project/programme environment and understand the basic principles relating to Programme and Project Management.
• A basic understanding of the PRINCE2 product would be a benefit for this course.

Pre Course Reading

You will be provided with pre-course reading prior to attending the course. This pre-reading is in the form of a PDF and is expected to take approximately two to three hours to complete. Your learning starts with this pre-reading, so please ensure you can complete the pre-course activities in full prior to attending.

Course material

Learners undertaking this course will be provided with an eBook of the official course manual to support their learning, instructions on how to access the eBook will be provided with the course joining instructions.

Please note: For open book exams learners are permitted to use a second device to access the official course manual, the use of dual monitors is not permitted during the exam.

Please ensure you bring a device such as a mobile phone, tablet or laptop to be able to load your course material on to as you may need this for use in the evenings.

Target Audience

This course is aimed at members of offices within a PMO model or anyone who needs to understand the terminology and concepts underpinning a PMO.

• Senior Managers wishing to gain an understanding of possible structures for supporting business change and the type and level of support that can be provided by Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices
• Senior Managers, Programme and Project Managers who require an understanding of how a PMO can add value and enhance the delivery of strategic business change, benefits and capability
• Managers and/or staff who have been tasked to create delivery support structures and mechanisms within their organisation
• Experienced PMO managers who need to review, revitalise or tailor current PMO provision
• PMO staff who need to understand the importance of their role
• Staff responsible for programme/project assurance

At the end of this course you will understand:

• How portfolio, programmes and projects relate
• Why it is important to provide appropriate support at all these levels
• The value of a PMO to the organisation
• How to identify a 'best-in-class' PMO model
• How to identify different models for support provision, and the factors that influence their design
• To recognise the roles within a PMO
• To apply the main PMO principles
• how to identify the tools and techniques that support consistent delivery of functions and services
• Develop the business case required to obtain senior management approval for the PMO
• Identify and build the most appropriate PMO model, which will adapt to the organisation's needs, taking account of the organisation's size and portfolio, programme and project management maturity
• Identify the most appropriate roles required to populate a specified PMO structure
• Plan the implementation of a PMO
• Choose and use appropriate tools and techniques while running the PMO and advising those who shape the portfolio of programmes and projects.

Introduction and Overview

A high-level introduction to the terminology used in the course and sets PMO's into an organisational context

• Definitions of Portfolio, Programmes, Projects and Business- as- Usual
• Relationships between project, programme, portfolio lifecycles
• High level PMO Model

Why have a PMO?

Examines the reason for having a PMO and develops the business case to implement or reenergise a PMO.

• The value of a PMO
• Identifying the vision and need for a PMO
• Identifying the stakeholders for a PMO
• Developing a business case for the PMO
• PMO capability and linked benefits
• Overcoming common barriers to successful P3O implementation

PMO Models

Identifying the different ways that an organisation could implement a Portfolio, Programme or Project Office

• Different PMO models
• Sizing and Tailoring an appropriate model
• Functions and services of a PMO
• Integrating to PMO in an organisation
• PMO maturity and evolution

PMO Roles

• Describing the typical roles and responsibilities within a PMO
• Management, generic, and functional roles
• Skills and competencies
• Staffing a PMO office

Operating a PMO

Describing the range of tools and techniques that can be used to support the functions and services of a successful PMO

• The differences between a tool and a technique
• 3 types of tool - Individual, Collaborative and Integrated
• Critical success factors in implementing a tool
• Benefits of various techniques including: Management dashboard, Portfolio prioritisation, Facilitated workshops, Business process swim lanes

PMO Implementation

Identifying the lifecycle to implement a new, or revitalise an existing PMO, both permanent and temporary offices

• Definition Stage and its key activities
• The Blueprint
• PMO information flows
• Risks to implementing a PMO

Examinations

PeopleCert exams take place remotely via PeopleCert Online Proctoring. You will be required to download and install ExamShield and conduct a compatibility test prior to sitting the exam. We strongly recommend you do not leave this until just before your exam time slot.

Exam slots are available 24/7 and learners need to be pre-book an exam time with the proctoring service. After purchase you will receive information on how to book your exams at a date and time convenient to you. Although your exam vouchers are valid for 12-months we strongly recommend you do not leave it too long after your course to sit them. If you wanted to schedule them for the same week as tuition, please note that foundation course instruction completes at around 4.30pm on the third day of your course and practitioner course instruction completes around 4.30pm on the final day of your course. Therefore, please ensure any exams are scheduled at least an hour after those times.

Once an exam slot is booked you can amend the date/time providing it’s within the voucher expiration date. Please note that if you change a booked exam slot within 48 hours of the time booked PeopleCert will charge an admin fee.

The foundation exam consists of:

• 70 multiple choice questions
• 1 hour.
• Closed book
• Candidates require 35 correct answers to pass

The practitioner exam consists of:

• 4 question groups with 20 questions in each (a total of 80 multiple-choice questions – 1 mark per question)
• 2.5 hours
• Open book
• Candidates require 40 correct answers to pass

Candidates will be informed of their indicative result before they leave the exam platform for each exam

Exam Proof of identification

Candidates are required to provide Photo ID with a valid signature e.g. driving license, passport or named work ID badges prior to sitting their exam. Failure to produce this ID will result in their exam results being withheld until proof of ID is provided. Please note that if proof is not provided within 40 days, candidate's exam results will be null and void and a re-sit would be required.

Reasonable Adjustments Policy

The exam provider allows additional time for candidates who have a disability or whose native language differs to that of the examination paper. Ful details and how to apply can be found here https://www.qa.com/legal-privacy/reasonable-adjustments-exam-guidance/ At least two weeks' notice will be required for processing this request. Delegates failing to advise QA and provide evidence when requested, may not be allowed the additional support offered via the policy. QA Exam Administration can be contacted by email exam.admin@qa.com or by phone +44(0)1793 696162

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