APM Introductory Certificate PFQ - United Kingdom

APM Introductory Certificate (PFQ) Course Outline

During this 2-day course, delegates will produce various documents required to plan, monitor, and control any project. There will be many opportunities to discuss their findings, their understanding of the processes and their approach to Project Management. Throughout the course additional information will be given to ensure candidates cover the objectives of each session. Individual exercises will also be used to consolidate the subjects taught.

Module 1: Understand Project Management and the Operating Environment

• Define the Term Project
• Projects Vs Business as Usual
• Define the Term Project Management
• Purpose of Project Management
• Define the Term Programme Management
• Define the Term Portfolio Management
• PESTLE Analysis

Module 2: Understand Project Life Cycles

• Project Life Cycle
• Linear Project Life Cycle
• Iterative Project Life Cycle
• Hybrid Life Cycle
• Extended Project Life Cycle

Module 3: Understand the Roles and Responsibilities within Projects

• What is Project Sponsorship?
• Role of the Project Sponsor
• What is an Organisation?
• Project Team Structure Example
• Project Sponsor and Project Manager
• Project Governance
• Project Team Members
• End Users
• Product Owner
• Project Management Office

Module 4: Understand Project Management Planning

• Define the Term Deployment Baseline
• Linear Vs Iterative Life Cycles
• Stakeholders of a Project Management Plan
• Purpose of a Business Case
• Typical Contents
• Role of a Project Sponsor and Project Manager in a Business Case
• What is Stakeholder Management?
• Stakeholder Analysis Process
• How a Stakeholder Analysis Supports Effective Stakeholder Engagement
• Define the Term Benefits Management
• What is Estimating?
• Typical Estimating Methods
• Purpose of the Estimating Funnel
• What is Project Success?
• What is Success?
• When to Define Success?
• Success Criteria
• Reporting
• Purpose of Project Progress Reporting
• Benefits of Project Progress Reporting

Module 5: Understand Project Scope Management

• Scope Management
• Scope Management within Linear and Iterative lifecycles
• Breakdown Structures
• Product Breakdown Structure
• Work Breakdown Structure
• Cost Breakdown Structure
• Organisational Breakdown Structures
• Responsibility Assignment Matrix
• Configuration Management
• Change Control
• Why Change Control
• Change Control Process
• Configuration Management Process

Module 6: Understand Resource, Scheduling and Optimisation in a Project

• What is Scheduling?
• Purpose of Scheduling
• Purpose of Critical Path Analysis
• Purpose of Milestones
• Time Boxing
• What is Resource Optimisation?
• Resource Levelling
• Resource Smoothing
• Procurement Strategy

Module 7: Understand Project Risk and Issue Management in the Context of a Project

• What is Risk?
• What is Project Risk Management?
• Purpose of Risk Management
• Risk Management Process
• Use of Risk Registers
• What is an ‘Issue’?
• Terminology
• Purpose of ‘Issue Management
• Differentiate Between an Issue and a Risk
• Issue Resolution Process

Module 8: Understand Quality in the Context of a Project

• Definition of Quality
• Quality Management
• Quality Components
• Quality Planning
• Quality Control
• Quality Assurance
• Decision Gates
• Post Project Reviews
• Benefit Reviews
• Project Audits

Module 9: Understand Communication in the Context of a Project

• What is Communication?
• Communications in Projects
• Face-to-Face Communication
• Physical Communication
• Virtual Communication
• Contents of a Communication Plan
• Benefits to a PM of a Communication Plan

Module 10: Understand Leadership and Teamwork within a Project

• Leadership
• Impact on Team Performance
• Challenges to a Project Manager
• Tuckman Team Development Model
• Belbin Roles