Overview
This event introduces delegates to effective project planning and control. Effective planning and control require 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.
Study at your own pace as our digital platform gives you the tools to track your progress and manage your own learning. This includes digital learning designed around the APMG Planning and Control Foundation (APMGPPCF) syllabus, including sample questions, quizzes, videos and written content.
The APMGPPCF covers the fundamentals of effective project planning and control and serves as the foundation for the APMG Planning and Control Practitioner course. APMGPPCF provides:
- a fundamental awareness of project planning and control terminology
- a broad understanding of the principles of project planning and control
- the knowledge to make a positive contribution to planning and controlling a project any project.
This course is aligned to the APMG Planning and Control syllabus and the APM published book titled Planning, Scheduling, Monitoring and Control – The Practical Project Management of Time, Cost and Risk (ISBN 978-1903494448).
Prerequisites
There are no specific requirements for experience or other qualifications that you must have before attending the APMGPPCF course. It is in your favour if you understand the basic principles and terminology associated with project scheduling, monitoring and control.
However, you will most likely:
- Be working or plan to work in a project environment.
- Be looking to progress your career and improve your employability.
- Be interested in learning about all areas of project planning, monitoring and control.
Target audience
This course is designed for professionals involved in planning, scheduling and monitoring projects:
- those looking to gain an understanding of project planning and control;
- project managers, project planners and project coordinators
- professionals who develop standards for monitoring projects, including:
- consultants
- engineers
- project controls managers
- senior project managers
Objectives
By the end of this course, 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.
Outline
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.
The course covers 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
The course is delivered online and you can expect to commit to the following:
- 12 months of learning (standard package will be 12 months)
- Approx 20 hours of online content
Exams and assessments
There is no examination included with this course. However, at the end of this course, you may choose to sit the optional exam to gain the full qualification linked to your learning. It’s a good idea to consider this option once you’ve completed all the content and feel confident in your understanding.
You will sit the online Foundation exam on the day that you book with our Exam and Certification Team. Therefore, you must complete your digital learning before booking this.
You will have 12 months from the time of booking this course to access your digital course and to book your exam.
The use of any study materials is not permitted during the exam.
The APMG Planning and Control Foundation exam is a 40 minute, 50 multiple choice question exam, and can be taken online in a classroom setting with QA, or at home using a remote live invigilator. The assessment language is English.
Each of the 50 questions is worth 1 mark, totalling 50 marks. The pass mark is 50% or 25 correct questions out of the 50.
What's included
- Online exam voucher
Frequently asked questions
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Find more answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQs: Bookings & Cancellations page.
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