APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation Training Course

Learn The Approaches And Techniques Used To Plan And Close A Project

Introduction

Our three-day APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation training course will introduce you to effective project planning and control. Effective planning and control requires 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.

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Course Overview

Please Note

You can book this course and hold it in credit until you have decided on a specific course date. Alternatively, please view our other course dates.

Course Dates

Exam Included

3 Days

£1005Excl. VAT

Course Outline

Our APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation training course will cover 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

Description

What Will You Learn?

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.

About the Course

Throughout the APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation training course, you will be exposed to numerous examples of examination questions. A number of exercises and 'question-and-answer' sessions that will help to consolidate the learning are undertaken, thereby ensuring that you are more than adequately prepared for the exam.

Who Should Attend

Our APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation training course is suitable for the following roles:

Planning Managers & Engineers
Project Control Managers & Engineers
Cost Engineers
Project Managers

Materials Provided

All relevant course materials are provided, which includes the APM Planning, Scheduling, Monitoring and Control Manual and the APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation examination.

Organisational Benefits

Blueprint - A plan is like a map that guides a project from start to finish.
Task Accountability - Team members become responsible for tasks assigned to them. Knowing they reap the consequences of failed tasks – conversely, the rewards of successful execution – motivates them to properly define their priorities.
Resources - Planning is required so that labor, finance and time resources can be thoroughly considered, including the risk of project delays due to some members working on several projects at the same time.
Problem & Risk Mitigation - Allowance for contingencies should be included in project plans so that if and when they arise, risk mitigation strategies are ready.
Project Completion - With a clear direction to follow, team members don’t get sidetracked by their own ideas.

Individual Benefits

Earning IT Certifications takes time and money, so it's no wonder that people ask what they'll get in return. But, achieving your certification has benefits way beyond just being able to post about it on LinkedIn. Here are a few ways that you will benefit from getting your IT Certification.

1. Enhance Your CV

The most obvious reason to gain a certification is that it enhances your CV and, therefore, greatly increases your chances of gaining a career in IT. Due to the sheer volume of CVs sent to potential employers when a job opening occurs, there is a very strict process of elimination where candidate CVs are concerned. Many companies will only consider those with certifications on their CVs and will completely ignore those without.

2. Hit The Ground Running

Following on the first of the benefits of IT Certification is the fact that a certified employee that joins a company will spend a minimal amount of time having to be trained, as they have already learned the skills necessary to slot into their new position. Any well-run business will look for ways to keep costs down and to be as efficient as possible. Being certified will not only save the company time but also reduce the cost of training a newly appointed employee.

3. Stay Employed

No one enjoys moving from one job to another within a short time period, as stability in the workplace shows commitment and loyalty to an organisation. Having a certification shows that you have sound knowledge in your chosen field and your ability to use that knowledge in a practical environment will strengthen your position within the company, reinforcing the benefits of IT Certification.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are necessary for attendance, although you would benefit from some experience and understanding of basic planning principles and terminology.

Prereading

Our APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation training course uses unique multimedia case-studies and accelerated-learning techniques to ensure that theory is embedded and you feel confident in the practical application of learning points. Additional evening work will be required in the form of consolidation reading and mock examination questions. The evening work is an integral part of the course and you should expect to spend approximately two hours on these activities each evening. The evening work is aimed at helping effective preparation for the examination.

Exam Overview

APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation Exam

Exam Format: Multiple Choice
Exam Delivery: Closed Book
Exam Duration: 40 Minutes
Number Of Questions: 50
Passing Score: 50%

Exam Type

Classroom Exam

Professional Development Units - PDUs

There are no Professional Qualification Credits associated with the APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation training course.

Qualifications

APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation Certificate

Next Steps

You might be interested in our two-day APMG Project Planning & Control™ Practitioner training course, where you will learn the following:

The application of products used to gain a clear definition of a project
The application of techniques used to plan and close a project
The selection, use and application of various scheduling techniques
The practices and application of rigorous monitoring to enable proactive control of the project
The application of effective record keeping, which also facilitates the virtuous feedback and learning cycle.

Conclusion

APMG Project Planning & Control™ guidance and training will:

Give a step by step controls guide from project initiation to execution.
Provide a holistic overview of the interdependencies between planning and controls functions.
Be a practical and scalable companion to almost any project controls professional.
Enable effective capability growth for delivery organizations.