MSP® Foundation & Practitioner (level 1 & 2) eLearning - $1099 (incl. exam voucher)

Learning Objectives

This module provides an introduction to this Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Foundation course, as well as MSP itself. What is it? What is it used for? What makes MSP so unique?

The module will also outline the learning aims and objectives for the rest of the course.

Learning Objectives

This module introduces students to what constitutes a ‘programme’ in an MSP environment. This includes:

Characteristics of MSP programmes and programme management
How different elements in programme management environments relate to each other
The triggers for vision-led, emergent and compliance programmes

Students will learn the three core concepts which make up MSP: ‘Principles’, ‘Governance Themes’ and ‘Transformational Flows’. This module will give particular focus to the Principles, which improve the probability of a programme successfully achieving its objectives. They include:

Remaining aligned with corporate strategy
Learning from experience
Designing and delivering a coherent capability
Adding value
Focusing on benefits and threats to them
Envisioning and communicating a better future
Leading change

Learning Objectives

This module goes into more detail about the nine Governance Themes of MSP:

Organisation
Vision
Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
Benefits Realisation Management
Blueprint Design and Delivery
Planning and Control
The Business Case
Risk Management and Issue Resolution
Quality Management

Students will learn to identify the most important roles in MSP governance: the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), Programme Manager, Business Change Manager (BCM) and the Programme Office. They will also study the characteristics of MSP strategies and plans.

Learning Objectives

This module will go into more detail about the roles defined in MSP: the Sponsoring Group, SRO, Programme Board, Programme Manager, BCM(s), Business Change Team and the Programme Office. This will include the typical membership found in the Sponsoring Group and Programme Board, the core functions and two distinct roles of the Programme Office, and the three features of an effectively organised MSP programme.

By the end of the module, students will be able to identify the purpose and responsibilities of the Sponsoring Group, Programme Board, SRO(s), Programme Manager, BCM(s), Business Change Team and Programme Office. They will also be able to recite the purpose of the MSP organisation structure.

Learning Objectives

This module will cover the purpose and content of an MSP ‘Vision Statement’. Students will learn to identify the characteristics of a well-made vision statement and the types of content that they contain.

The module will also cover the main areas of focus for the ‘Vision’ Governance Theme in relation to the SRO(s), Programme Manager and BCM(s).

Learning Objectives

This module will cover the topic of stakeholders, the role they play in MSP programmes and how programme managers must interact with them.

As well as the definition of ‘stakeholder’ in the context of MSP, students will learn to identify the purpose of:

The influence/interest matrix
The programme communications plan
The stakeholder map
The stakeholder engagement strategy
Stakeholder profiles
Visioning workshops
The ‘do-nothing vision'

Students will come to understand the importance of stakeholders to a programme and the impact it can have on them, depending on the level and type of stakeholder. The module will also cover the communication process, with students learning the four core elements of successful communication, how to make messages more effective and how to ensure stakeholder participation even with non-participative media.

The module will focus on the Governance Theme of ‘Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement’, as well as how it relates to the roles of SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices.

Learning Objectives

This module covers the Benefits Management practices of MSP. Students will learn to identify the four critical validation tests of a ‘benefit’ (DOAM), as well as how benefits are best described using change terms.

Students will also come to understand how to identify the outputs, capabilities, outcomes, benefits and disbenefits in given programmes. They will also learn the purpose and activities of each step of the generic four-step cycle for managing benefits on any programme.

The module will then move on to the purpose of the benefits map and benefits profiles, and the content typically found within them.

By the end of the module, students will be familiar with the main areas of focus for the Governance Theme of ‘Benefits Realisation Management’ in relation to SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices. They will also understand the reasons why benefits management can continue beyond the conclusion of a programme.

Learning Objectives

This module covers the design and delivery of blueprints, with particular focus on ‘POTI’ models (Processes, Organisation, Technology and Information).

Students will learn the definition of each element of POTI models, as well as the purpose and types of content typically found in MSP blueprints. They will also learn the specific purposes of tranches and work streams.

The module will also focus on the Governance Theme of ‘Blueprint Design and Delivery’, and how it relates to SRO(s), BCM(s), Programme Managers and Programme Offices.

Learning Objectives

This module covers the importance of programme planning and programme control. Students will look at the definition of ‘resources’ in MSP and how they relate to the Governance Theme of ‘Planning and Control’. The module will also cover the roles of SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices in relation to Planning and Control.

Students will learn the purpose of monitoring and controlling strategy, programme plans, projects dossiers, resource management plans and resource management strategies, as well as the content that is typically found in project dossiers. They will come to understand the ways in which live projects are monitored, and the three types of dependencies that must be managed during a programme.

Learning Objectives

This module focuses on the ‘Business Case’ Governance Theme. Students will learn to identify the purpose and types of content found in a typical business case, as well as the questions which it must be able to answer during the life cycle of a programme. The different types of programme costs will also be identified and explained.

Students will also focus on the roles played by SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices in relation to the Business Case Governance Theme.

Learning Objectives

This module covers the Governance Theme of ‘Risk Management and Issue Resolution’. Students will learn to define ‘risk’, ‘issue’ and ‘configuration item’, while also learning the defined risk responses of MSP. They will also become familiar with the three perspectives associated with managing programme issues and risks.

By the end of the module, students will be able to identify descriptions of:

Impact
Probability
Proximity
Risks (including causes, events and effects of threats and opportunities)
Defined risk responses
Typical sources of risks and issues

Students will also be able to identify the purpose of:

Programme and issue management
Issue registers
Issue management strategies
Probability impact grids
Summary risk profiles
Progress reporting
Risk management strategies
Risk registers
Risk owners
Risk actionees

The roles of SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices in relation to Risk Management and Issue Resolution will also be covered.

Learning Objectives

This module looks at how MSP practitioners can ensure that programmes are delivered with optimum quality. This will include a look at auditing, as well as the effectiveness of measurements, assurance reviews, P3M3 maturity assessments and gated reviews.

By the end of the module, students should be able to identify the purpose and scope of:

Programme quality and assurance
Information management plans
Information management strategies
Quality and assurance plans
Quality and assurance strategies
Asset management
Configuration management
Programme quality management
Project quality management

Students will also cover the roles of SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices in relation to the MSP Governance Theme of Quality Management.

Learning Objectives

This module focuses on the six MSP Transformational Flow Processes. Students will learn the name and sequencing of each process, as well as the three distinct sets of activities undertaken during the ‘Realising the Benefits’ Transformational Flow Process:

Manage pre-transition
Manage transition
Manage post-transition

The module will highlight the reasons for:

Identifying and defining a programme
Managing the tranches
Delivering the capability
Realising the benefits

By the end of the module, students will know the purpose and types of content found in the programme mandate, programme brief and the programme definition document. They will also learn the purpose of the programme preparation plan and project brief. Finally, students will know the tests for programme closure and the reasoning behind the Transformational Flow Process of ‘Closing a Programme’.

Learning Objectives

Module 1 covers the key concepts relating to the principles, governance themes and transformational flow of MSP, and how they relate to each other. It goes through the drivers that cause organizations to initiate change programs, the areas that may be affected by changes and the different impacts that a program can have. Finally, it covers the program information baselines and the reasons why business alignment is important.

By the end of the module, students should be able to identify if a change initiative should be managed as a program or project. They should also have a clear understanding of how each role contributes to program governance through a program’s lifecycle.

Learning Objectives

Module 2 examines the key concepts relating to the governance theme of ‘Organization’, together with the ‘Programme Office (PO)’.

It also identifies the key attributes and activities developed by the members of a program and covers the transformational flow activities associated with the Organization theme.

Learning Objectives

Module 3 covers the governance theme of ‘Vision’ and goes through the reasons why making major changes to a vision statement should be avoided.

It specifies which activities and roles are involved in the transformational flow, as well as those used for the development and maintenance of vision statements.

Learning Objectives

This module describes the steps of the stakeholder engagement cycle. It covers the typical contents and factors which must be considered for:

The stakeholder engagement strategy
Stakeholder management
The stakeholder map
The program communications plan
Business change management
The influence/interest matrix

It also outlines the major roles involved in stakeholder engagement, as well as their respective responsibilities, and describes the transformational flow activities associated with the governance theme of ‘Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement’.

Learning Objectives

Module 5 is dedicated to the governance theme of ‘Benefits Management’. It covers the drivers for Benefits Management and benefits categorization, including:

The ‘3 Es’ of categorization by value
KPIs and benefit measurements
Financial impacts
The differences between cashable and non-cashable benefits
Types of corporate objectives which benefits may support
Stakeholder impact
Timeline
Level of risk

It also describes the typical contents and/ or format of:

Benefits management strategies
Benefits maps
Benefit profiles
Benefits realization plans

Lastly, this module identifies specific roles and responsibilities and goes through the transformational flow activities associated with the governance theme of Benefits Management.

Learning Objectives

Module 6 covers the governance theme of ‘Blueprint Design and Delivery’. It covers the theme’s main characteristics, such as the nature of collaboration between Blueprint Design and Delivery, the other governance themes and the documents with which it should be aligned.

The module describes the purpose of ‘options analysis’ and the factors which need to be considered when arranging solutions into projects, tranches and workstreams.

Finally, it covers the transformational flow activities associated with Blueprint Design and Delivery, as well as the specific roles and responsibilities within the theme.

Learning Objectives

Module 7 covers the key concepts relating to the governance theme of ‘Planning and Control’, with careful attention to:

Monitoring and controlling strategy
The program plan and project plan
The projects dossier and project briefs
The resource management plan and resource management strategy
The benefit profiles and benefits realization plan

To conclude, it describes how each role should apply the guidance provided by the ‘Planning and Control’ theme throughout the life of a program, and identifies transformational flow activities associated with the theme.

Learning Objectives

Module 8 covers the governance theme of ‘Risk and Issue Management’. It gives special attention to the purpose of the principles of program risk management, the principal areas of risk, and the issues found in each of the four organizational perspectives.

It goes into detail about the:

Issue register and issue management strategy progress report (risk and issue)
Risk management strategy
Risk register
Risk evaluation techniques and how to calculate expected value
Risk management framework and cycle
Issue management framework and cycle
Configuration management steps and the basic steps of change control
Probability impact grids and summary risk profile

Additionally, the module describes risk appetite, risk tolerance thresholds and the characteristics of early warning indicators.

Lastly, it makes a distinction between risks and issues from each perspective and determines how each role should apply the guidance provided by the Risk and Issue Management theme throughout the life of a program.

Learning Objectives

Module 9 is dedicated to the ‘Business Case’ theme.

During this module, learners will discover more about the relationships that exist between a business case and the principles of MSP. Students will also learn what is involved in managing a business case.

The module also covers the ‘programme information’ (documents) that need to be reviewed following any significant changes to a business case. It then draws a link between a program’s business case and the business cases of its various projects.

Additionally, the module goes through the concept and use of the net benefit line, determines how each role should apply the guidance provided by the Business Case theme and, lastly, describes the transformational flow activities associated with the theme.

Learning Objectives

Module 10 covers the key concepts around the ‘Quality and Assurance Management’ theme, with specific attention to:

The information management plan and information management strategy
The quality and assurance plan and quality and assurance strategy

The module defines the characteristics of the techniques that may be used to help ensure that a program is being delivered optimally, and specifies the different purposes of health checks and maturity assessments.

It goes on to cover the evolution of information baselines and the critical success factors that underpin successful information management systems. Lastly, it identifies the major roles, responsibilities and transformational flow activities associated with the Quality and Assurance Management theme.

Learning Objectives

This last module covers the key concepts relating to the transformational flow and its six processes, together with their specific inputs, activities and outputs. It classifies the roles, accountabilities and responsibilities for each one of the processes and identifies appropriate information for inclusion in the:

Program mandate
Program brief
Program preparation plan
Program definition document
Project briefs

To conclude, it describes the formal approvals required during the life of a program and analyzes the reasons for program closure.

Learning Objectives

Module 12 helps students learn to put into practice all that has been covered so far.

We offer two complete Axelos MSP Practitioner exams, with answer keys and detailed feedback for each question to help students prepare for the official exam. Before taking the mock test, learners are advised to look over the exam tips and guidance.