APMG Project Planning & Control™ Practitioner Training Course

Learn Management Of Risk In The Planning, Execution And Evaluation Of A Project

Introduction

Our two-day APMG Project Planning & Control™ Practitioner training course consolidates and expands on effective project planning and control taught in the APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation training course. 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

2 Days

£695Excl. VAT

Course Outline

Our APMG Project Planning & Control™ Practitioner 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:

Factors to consider to ensure the WI and SOW are fit for purpose
Key elements needed for effective project planning
The need for effective stakeholder management

PLANNING (PL)

The following areas will be discussed:

Determine activities, outputs and roles involved in the development and maintenance of the plans required throughout the life of the project
Determine when top-down, bottom-up and rolling-wave approaches to planning should be adopted and the outputs of each
Interpret ‘S’ curves and identify planning strategies to work out how best to deliver the project
Identify appropriate project information for inclusion in the project’s Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) and apply the guidance to its creation
Identify appropriate project information for inclusion in the project’s Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and apply the guidance to its creation
Identify appropriate project information for inclusion in the project’s WBS Dictionary and apply the guidance to its creation
Identify appropriate project information for inclusion in the project’s Organisational Breakdown Structure (OBS) and apply the guidance to its creation
Identify appropriate project information for inclusion in the project’s Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) and RACI Matrix and apply the guidance to their creation
Identify appropriate project information for inclusion in the project’s Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) and Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) and apply the guidance to their creation
Identify the project interfaces that need to be monitored and controlled during the life of the project, together with their scope
Determine the appropriate approaches for producing project estimates
Whether specific activities associated with the development and maintenance of the plans required throughout the life of the project have been applied appropriately, with reasons
Whether a chosen delivery strategy for the project is appropriate, with reasons
Whether a chosen planning strategy for the project is likely to be effective, with reasons
Whether the project’s Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) is fit for purpose, with reasons
Whether the project’s Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is fit for purpose, with reasons
Whether the project’s WBS Dictionary is fit for purpose, with reasons
Whether the project’s Organisational Breakdown Structure (OBS) is fit for purpose, with reasons
Whether the project’s Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) and Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) are fit for purpose, with reasons
Whether the project interfaces that need to be monitored and
Whether selected estimate techniques/methodologies for the project are appropriate, with reasons
Whether the use of activities associated with the handover and closeout of the project are likely to be appropriate, with reasons

SCHEDULING (SC)

The following areas will be discussed:

Advantages and disadvantages of Target Schedules
Steps in the process of resourcing the schedule
Need to manage project interfaces and the activities necessary to implement the four key stages of dependency management:

1. Identification
2. Coding
3. Integration and impact analysis (incl. internal and external integration)
4. Impact resolution

Identify and apply the activities involved in the development and maintenance of the project schedule
Identify the types and required densities (levels) of the schedule(s) required by the project and the types of information that may be included in those schedules
Determine which elements of schedule design should be included in the project schedule a how they should be used

MONITOR AND CONTROL (MC)

The following areas will be discussed:

The use of Earned Value Techniques (EVT) and the advantages/limitations of Earned Value Analysis
Outputs of a project level change control process including the information required (incl. Change Requests, Change Log, Change
Orders and Change Reporting Requirements)
Purpose of Risk Management together with the ways of drawing down risk budget
Purpose and key elements of Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA), together with:

1. Its reliance on Monte Carlo analysis
2. The two elements of QSRA
3. Process – stages and their characteristics
4. Outputs (Probability Charts and Tornado Charts)

Purpose and steps of Monte Carlo analysis, including distribution types
Purpose and key elements of Quantitative Cost Risk Analysis (QCRA), together with:

1. Process – stages and their characteristics
2. Outputs (Cumulative Normal Distributions (S-curves) for cost impacts, Sensitivity (Tornado) Charts and QSRA Percentiles)
3. Use of Sensitivity Analysis

Purpose and methods of Forensic Analysis:

1. As-Planned vs. As-Built Method (AP v AB)
2. Impacted As-Planned Method (IAP)
3. Collapsed As-built Method (CAB) or AS-built But For (ABBF)
4. Time Impact Analysis Method (TIA)

Requirements, Advantages, Disadvantages and where it can be used together with other relevant considerations
Be able to apply key concepts relating to the Monitoring and Control of a project within a given scenario. Specifically to identify and apply activities involved in the development and maintenance of the project baseline, together with the application of the rules
Determine the most appropriate methods of reporting the performance of the project and what project information should be included in the performance reports produced
Interpret the outputs of methods of reporting performance:

1. Drop line method
2. Activity Weeks method
3. Milestone monitoring
4. Cash Flow monitoring
5. Resource monitoring
6. Network Analysis and measurement of float usage

Interpret:

1. Curves showing Planned Value, Actual Cost and Earned Value, Cost and Schedule Variance
2. Cost and Schedule Variance Charts
3. Bulls Eye Performance Charts

In order to determine the status of the project and identify the likely causes of the reported performance

Perform Earned Value calculations and determine the status of the project and identify the likely causes of the reported performance:

1. Cost Variance (CV)
2. Schedule Variance (SV)
3. Schedule Performance Index (SPI) Cost Performance Index (CPI)

Use Earned Value data to produce project forecasts:

1. Estimate At Completion (EAC)
2. Estimate To Complete (ETC) Estimate Time To Complete (ETTC)

Determine the most appropriate Earned Value Technique (EVT) for application during the project
Identify and apply activities involved in the application of an appropriate short-term planning process for the project
Identify appropriate use and information for inclusion in the following:

1. Change Request
2. Change Log
3. Monthly Change Report

Identify activities involved in the application of an appropriate change control process for the project
Risk Assessment, the use of the Risk Assessment Matrix, Risk Log and the planning and controlling of the funds for managing risk
Interpret the results of the project’s Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA) as displayed on:

1. Probability Charts
2. Tornado Chart
3. Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA) Chart Duration Uncertainty Tornado Chart

Purpose and steps of Monte Carlo analysis, including distribution types
Interpret the results of the project’s Quantitative Cost Risk Analysis (QCRA) and Cost Impact Severity Tornado Chart
Identify and apply methods Forensic Analysis and Delay and Disruption Analysis
Be able to identify, analyse and distinguish between the appropriate and inappropriate use of key concepts relating to the Monitoring and Control of a project within a given project scenario. Specifically to analyse:

1. Whether specific activities undertaken to establish and maintain a Project Baseline are appropriate, with reasons
2. Whether Performance Reports are fit for purpose, with reasons

Whether methods of reporting the project’s performance are applied appropriately and whether their outputs are fit for purpose, with reasons:

1. Drop line method
2. Activity Weeks method
3. Milestone monitoring
4. Cash Flow monitoring
5. Resource monitoring
6. Network Analysis and measurement of float usage

Whether Earned Value information has been interpreted correctly: to determine the status of the project and the likely causes of the reported performance
Whether Earned Value calculations have been performed and interpreted correctly to determine the status of the project and identify the likely causes of the reported performance
Whether Earned Value data has been used appropriately to produce project forecasts
Whether the application of Earned Value Techniques (EVTs) to the project is appropriate, with reasons
Whether the use of specific activities undertaken during short-term, high density scheduling are appropriate, with reasons
Whether the following are fit for purpose, with reasons:

1. Change Request
2. Change Log
3. Monthly Change Report

Whether the use of specific Change Management activities are appropriate, with reasons
Whether the Risk Assessment, the use of the Risk Assessment Matrix, Risk Log and planning and controlling of the funds for managing risk are appropriate, with reasons
Whether the results of Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA) as displayed on:

1. Probability Charts
2. Tornado Chart
3. Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA) Chart
4. Duration Uncertainty Tornado Chart are appropriate and accurate.

Purpose and steps of Monte Carlo analysis, including distribution
Interpret the results of the project’s Quantitative Cost Risk Analysis (QCRA) and the Cost Impact Severity Tornado Chart
Identify and apply methods Forensic Analysis and Delay and Disruption Analysis

Description

What Will You Learn?

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.

About the Course

Throughout the APMG Project Planning & Control™ Practitioner 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™ Practitioner training course is suitable for the following roles:

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

Materials Provided

Our APMG Project Planning & Control™ Practitioner 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.

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

You are required to have successfully passed the APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation examination. You should provide proof that you have passed the APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation examination. You are also required to bring a form of photographic identification to show the invigilator. Failure to bring either proof of passing Foundation or photographic identification may result in not being able to sit the examination.

Prereading

You are required to have a copy of the APM Planning, Scheduling, Monitoring and Control Manual. This would have been provided on the APMG Project Planning & Control™ Foundation training course - otherwise, the ISBN is: 978-1-903494-44-8. You must bring this book with them to the course. This 353 page document is the basis for the course as well as the Practitioner Exam. Ideally, you will have read this document but they must be familiar with the entire book.

Exam Overview

APMG Project Planning & Control™ Practitioner Exam

Exam Delivery: Open Book (APM Planning, Scheduling, Monitoring & Control Book Permitted)
Exam Duration: 3 Hours
Number Of Questions: 80
Passing Score: 50%

Exam Type

Classroom Exam

Professional Development Units - PDUs

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

Qualifications

APMG Project Planning & Control™ Practitioner Certificate

Next Steps

ITIL® is used by millions of professionals globally. Businesses are built on the ITIL® framework. Every year, organizations all over the world invest heavily in adopting and adapting the ITIL® 4 Foundation into their business practices and up-skilling their staff with ITIL® 4 qualifications.

You might be interested in our three-day ITIL® 4 Foundation training course will enable you to understand a new way to look at IT Service Management (ITSM) through a Service Value System (SVS).

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.