MSP Foundation & Practitioner

Programme Managers, Programme Directors, those managers involved in Business Change, Programme/Project Support staff and Project Managers who will undertake roles in Programmes.

It can be particularly useful as an advanced Project Management course for senior and very experienced Project Managers and those seeking a professional qualification.

This five-day course provides delegates with a comprehensive understanding of the Best Practice framework for Programme Management, 'Managing Successful Programmes' (MSP-2011), 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

Delegates should have a good appreciation of the principles and sound practical experience of Project Management, ideally utilising a recognised structured methodology.

It would be helpful if they have some knowledge and/or experience of strategic or business planning. 

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

MSP philosophy and structure

       What is a programme and how it differs to both business as usual and project work

       Relationship between the MSP principles, governance themes and the transformational flow

The 7 MSP principles

       Remaining aligned with corporate strategy

       Leading change

       Envisioning and communicating a better future

       Focusing on benefits and threats to them

       Adding value

       Designing and delivering a coherent capability

       Learning from experience

The 9 MSP governance themes

       Organisation

       Vision

       Leadership and stakeholder engagement

       Benefits management

       Blueprint design and delivery

       Planning and control

       Business case

       Risk and issue management

       Quality and assurance management

The 6 MSP Transformational Flow Processes

       Identifying a programme

       Defining a programme

       Managing the tranche

       Delivering the capability

       Realising the benefits

       Closing a programme

Delegates sit the MSP foundation and practitioner examinations during the course. The MSP Foundation exam consists of:

• 75multiple choice questions (5 not marked)
• 1 hour
• Closed-book
• Candidates require a minimum of 35 correct answers (50%) to pass.

The MSP Practitioner examination takes place at the end of the course, usually on the morning of the last day. The MSP Practitioner exam consists of:

• 8 questions, each worth 10 marks each. Total of 80 marks
• “Objective Test Examination” format – a style of complex multiple-choice examination.
• 2½ hours duration
• Delegates may use their official MSP manual: “Managing Successful Programmes” only
• Candidates require a minimum of 40 marks (50%) to pass

Please note that candidates must pass the foundation exam before attempting the practitioner exam.
By successfully passing the practitioner exam, delegates attain ‘Registered Practitioner’ status