Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) - Practitioner Course

Summary / Objectives

This five-day course provides delegates with a comprehensive understanding of the 2007 version of the OGC framework for Programme Management, 'Managing Successful Programmes' (MSP™), and how it can be applied to live programmes.
Strategic change is becoming a constant as many businesses realign themselves to stay ahead of the competition. This frequently results in the need to manage a range of initiatives across multiple disciplines within the organisation. Programme Management is the co-ordinated management of a dossier of often complex projects that change organisations to achieve benefits that are of strategic importance. Programme Management involves:

- working within and changing the culture of an organisation
- realising benefits
- delivering capability

This is an intensive five day course using a combination of lectures, exercises, case studies, workshops and examination preparation.

Delegates will be sent the MSP™ manual for pre-reading, some two weeks ahead of the course and also a case study to review. It is strongly recommended that 10 - 12 hours of pre-reading of the MSP™ manual is completed prior to attendance on the course. Familiarisation time on the case study material and sample foundation questions using the specially written software provided, is also recommended. The case study forms the basis of exercises and workshops within the course to explore the application of the MSP™ framework and techniques to real programmes.

Delegates wishing to take and pass the MSP™ Foundation and Practitioner examinations are advised that approximately two hours consolidation and preparation work will be required during each evening of the course.

All delegates will sit the Foundation examination on the fourth day of the course and the Practitioner examination on the last day. Those delegates not wishing to take the Practitioner examination should book on the 4-day Programme Management Foundation course (course code QAPMF-2).

Experienced Programme Managers who aspire to the new award of Advanced Practitioner will also want to book onto the follow-on Advanced Practitioner course (course code QAPMAP-2) once they have received notification of success in the Practitioner exam. This follow-on course will be available in 2008.

The Practitioner course carries the award of 37.5 Professional Development Units (PDU's) for PMI re-certification.


Course content

MSP™ Introduction and Overview
What is a programme; What is programme management; Structure of MSP™

MSP™ Framework and Concepts
Principles; Governance themes; Transformational Flow; Management strategies

Vision
What is a vision; Vision Statements

Identifying a Programme
What to consider when scoping programmes; The programme brief; Planning for the programme definition;

Blueprint Design and Delivery
What is a Blueprint; Contents and level of detail; Developing a Blueprint from the Vision Statement.

Defining a Programme
Programme Definition Document; Project Dossier; Programme Plan; Programme Business Case

Planning and Control
Developing the Programme Plan; Building the Project Dossier; Resourcing and scheduling; Priorities

Benefits
Key drivers for the programme; Benefits realisation and strategic objectives; Outcome relationship models; Benefit Maps; Benefits realisation plan

The Business Case
Developing the Business Case for the Programme; Managing and reviewing it

Organisation and the Programme Office
Organisation and leadership; Organisational structure; Roles and responsibilities; Programme Office

Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
Leadership v management; Stakeholder engagement; Analysing stakeholders; Stakeholder maps and matrices.

Managing Tranches
Implementing governance arrangements; Establishing tranches

Delivering Capability/Realising benefits
Commissioning, co-ordinating, managing and closing projects in the Project Dossier; Aligning with the programme; Integrating project outputs into operations; Realising benefits; Pre-transition, transition and post-transition activities.

Quality Management
Critical Success Factors; Programme quality management; Quality processes; Configuration Management; Quality Management Plan; Information Management Plan;

Risk Management and Issue Resolution
Principles, approach and strategy for managing risks and resolving issues; Handling programme changes;

Closing a Programme
Focusing on the end goal; How to recognise that the new capability has been delivered; Reviewing benefits to date; Confirming closure

APMG MSP™ Foundation and Practitioner Examinations for the 2007 version of the Manual, and Coaching.
Foundation Examination: Closed book; Multiple choice; 50 questions; 40 minutes; 50% pass mark (60% to become eligible to take the Practitioner Examination after March 2008.)
Practitioner Examination: Closed book; Objectively marked test; 9 questions, with sections; 2½ hours; 50% pass mark

(MSP™ is a Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce)

539 Lawmoor Street
Glasgow
G5 0TT

phone: 0870 112 4899
fax: 0870 443 2651
email: info@elitetc.co.uk