MSP® Foundation and Practitioner
Managing Successful Programmes MSP®
Programme management is the coordinated organization, direction and implementation of a dossier of projects and transformation activities, to achieve outcomes and realize benefits of strategic importance. It is about having a Vision of the To-Be state, like a postcard from the future. Through benefits and outcome tracking of each projects deliverables, the strategic objectives are achieved.
- How does a programme differ from a project – in simple terms?
A project is a temporary organization created for delivering one or more business outputs according to a specified business case.
A programme is a temporary, flexible organization structure created to co-ordinate, direct and oversee the implementation of a set of related projects and transformational activities.
A programme is an implementation of a set of related projects and transformational activities to co-ordinate in business as usual.
- Do you have an example of a programme?
Building a new school may be a straightforward project for the construction company carrying out the work, with the output being the completed building. However, for the education authority it may be part of a programme, where the building is merely one of the several different independent outputs, which together will ensure the longer-term benefits of providing improved education and recreation in a particular community.
- How does programme management add value to the organisation?
Programme Management aligns three critical organisational elements:
* Corporate Strategy
* Delivery mechanisms for change
* Business-as-usual
It manages the natural tension that exists between these elements to deliver transformational change that meets the needs of the organisation and its stakeholders. It also manages the transition of the solutions developed and delivered by projects into the organisation’s operations, whilst maintaining performance and effectiveness.
- What is the “project-to-benefits” delivery path?
The delivery sequence, shown in the adjacent figure is:
A. You deliver outputs from projects. Output is a term relevant in the world of the project. While it's still relevant in programmes, it isn't the be-all and end-all. After you've got the outputs from the projects, you're about halfway through the heavy lifting.
B. You produce capabilities, which are one or more outputs from the point of view of your business as usual.
C. You exploit capabilities so that they become outcomes. (Outcomes are significantly different from outputs).
D. You measure the achievement of outcomes as something quite specific: benefits.
Introduction
The purpose of the qualification is to confirm that a candidate has sufficient knowledge and understanding of the MSP® guidance to interact effectively with those involved in the management of a programme or act as an informed member of a Programme office team, business change team or project delivery team working within an environment supporting MSP®.
Course details / objectives
This course takes place over three days, including the optional Foundation examination. Delegates should be aware that considerable evening preparation and consolidation will be required to pass the exam. Joining instructions are sent out approximately 2 weeks before the course. During the three days, there will be a combination of formal presentations, group and individual exercise enabling delegates to gain an understanding of the following topics.
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Overview
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Principles
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Transformational Flow
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Identifying a Programme
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Vision
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Blueprint Design & Delivery
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Defining a Programme
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Benefits Management
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The Business Case
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Organisation
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Planning & Control
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Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
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Risk & Issue Management
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Quality & Assurance Man-agement
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Delivering the Tranches
Who should attend?
Programme office team members, business change team members, project delivery team members, anyone who needs to understand the terminology and concepts underpinning MSP and those wishing to pursue higher level qualifications.
The standard package inclusions
Delegates will receive a pre-course study guide, the official MSP® reference manual, a course workbook (with copies of all slides used), the MSP® syllabus, sample exams and examination rationale (explanation of answers). The costs for the two examinations are included. Refreshments and a light luncheon are also included.
Duration and Delivery
5 Day Instructor-led classroom. The methodology will be covered during the first three days and this will include the foundation examination. The fourth and fifth days will be used to work with sample project scenarios and practitioner examination preparation.
Evening work and exam preparation
Delegates should plan to spend time reviewing the day’s work and preparing for exams, during the evenings of the course.
Pre-course work
For 2 weeks before the course, participants should spend 2 hours each evening preparing. The pre-reading consists of the MSP® manual, which you will need to be familiar with. For more information regarding the reading, please refer to the Pre-course Workbook.
Prerequisites
Participants must pass the PRINCE2® Foundation exam in order to participate in the PRINCE2® Practitioner exam.
Examination
MSP® Foundation is a one hour exam performed at the end of the third day. It is made up of 75 multiple choice questions. The exam is closed book. The pass mark is 50%.
MSP® Practitioner is a 2.5 hours exam comprising 80 multiple choice questions. The exam is open book. The pass mark is 55%. We recommend that it be taken a week or more after the end of the course.
We offer tailored and standard MSP training and coaching. Call 083 781 4748 to arrange your MSP Foundation or Practitioner course at your office or our venue.
You can schedule a course at a convenient time for you.
Where there is a major change there will be complexity and risk, many interdependencies to manage and conflicting priorities to resolve. Experience shows that organisations are likely to fail to deliver change successfully where:
- There is insufficient board-level support
- Leadership is weak
- There are unrealistic expectations of the organisational capacity and ability to change
- There is insufficient focus on benefits
- There is no real picture (blueprint) of the future capability
- There is a poorly defined or poorly communicated vision
- The organisation fails to change its culture
- There is insufficient engagement of stakeholders
Adopting a programme management approach such as MSP® provides a structured framework that can help organisations avoid these pitfalls and achieve their goals.
