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Project and Programme management

MSP® Foundation & Practitioner

Today’s organisations exist in a climate of constant and increasing change. The many dynamic and contradictory drivers for change include innovations in technology, working practices (including outsourcing and partnerships), mergers, increased demands from regulation and for the public sector, delivery of policy driven by changing political parties and/or ministers. Whatever the organisation, wherever it is located, however it is structured, the rate of change is increasing.

Organisations that have learned to transform themselves through effective leadership and strategic control are more likely to survive and prosper. Programme management is increasingly being recognised as a key tool to enable organisations to manage that transformation. Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) represents proven programme management good practice in successfully delivering transformational change, drawn from the experiences of both public and private sector organisations.

The MSP framework is based on three core concepts:

MSP principles – derived from lessons learned in programmes that had both positive and negative results. They represent common factors that underpin the likelihood of success of any programme of transformational change.
MSP Governance Themes – an organisation’s approach to programme management needs to be defined, measured and controlled. The Governance Themes allow organisations to put in place the right leadership, delivery team, robust organisation structures, controls and control information (e.g. Blueprint, Business Case, Quality Management Strategy, etc), giving the best chance of delivering the planned outcomes and realising the desired benefits.
MSP Transformational Flow – the flow provides a route through the lifecycle of a programme, from its conception through to its delivering the new capability, outcomes and benefits and finally on to the close of the programme.

Capita Learning & Development’s MSP training course is based on the 2007 edition of the MSP manual: ‘Managing Successful Programmes’. This is an enjoyable but intensive five day course providing delegates with the knowledge of MSP as well as an opportunity to sit the Foundation & Practitioner examinations, administered on behalf of Office of Government Commerce (OGC) by the APM Group Ltd (APMG). Typically all our courses are run by MSP-accredited trainers who have experience of both ‘hands-on’ management and training.
Cost: £1250 + VAT
Duration: 5 day(s)
Available dates and locations
  • London
    • Monday 24/09/2012
    • Monday 03/12/2012
  • Delegates understand the need for programme management and to be able to apply the concepts of successful programme management using the MSP method
  • Delegates will be able to manage the realisation of benefits and the needs of stakeholders, to set up a framework to manage planning, progress, quality, issues and risks within a programme environment and to test their understanding and competency, by sitting the MSP Foundation & Practitioner examinations
  • Entry-level programme management personnel wishing to learn about programme management generally and the MSP method in particular
  • Experienced Programme Managers and personnel who wish to learn about the MSP method
  • Those managers wishing to consider whether to adopt the method for use in their own programmes
  • Programme management support staff who actively/intend to support MSP
  • Anybody who needs to know how to run programmes more effectively

Introductions to programme management & MSP
This section looks at some of the challenges facing the programme manager and explains the typical performance indicators and the underlying structure of MSP i.e. Programme Management Principles, Governance Themes and Transformational Flow.

Programme Management Principles
Since MSP is principles-based, the seven principles are dealt with next. Principles provide programmes with a useful framework of good practice for all those involved in a programme. Importantly, by following the seven principles, the programme is more likely to achieve its objectives. The seven principles are:

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

Governance Themes
Governance is the control framework through which programmes deliver their change objectives and remain within corporate visibility and control. A programme needs clear and open governance if it wants to be successful. It will need to negotiate the resources it wants, manage the resources made available to it and adjust to organisational contexts whilst delivering agreed outcomes and benefits. The focus of this part of the course is on the core elements of an effective framework.

The MSP Governance themes describe aspects of programme management that must be addressed continually. The strength of MSP is the way in which the seven themes are integrated and are carefully designed to link together effectively. The nine governance themes are:

  • Organisation
  • Vision
  • Leadership & stakeholder engagement
  • Benefits Realisation Management
  • Blueprint Design & Delivery
  • Planning & Control
  • Business Case
  • Risks & Issue Management
  • Quality Management

The Transformational Flow
MSP programmes are all about delivering transformational business change. This part of the course looks at how transformation is achieved through a series of iterative, interrelated steps. The main processes in delivering an MSP programme are:

  • Identifying a Programme
  • Defining a Programme
  • Managing the Tranches
  • Delivering the Capability
  • Realising the Benefits
  • Closing a Programme

Examinations
Typically, mid-afternoon on day three, delegates sit the MSP Foundation examination which is a forty minute, closed-book examination consisting of fifty multiple-choice questions. Delegates are expected to achieve thirty or more correct answers to pass. Papers are generally marked by the trainer, following completion. The Foundation qualification lasts forever and is the prerequisite for the Practitioner examination which delegates sit on day five.

The MSP Practitioner examination is a two and a half hour, objective testing format, eight question, multiple-choice, open-book examination. It is normally conducted on the morning of day five. Delegates are expected to achieve a pass mark of at least fifty percent in order to achieve a pass; the maximum life of the Practitioner qualification is five years, after which time Registered MSP Practitioners are expected to pass a re-registration exam to retain their certification.

Delegates prepare for both examinations by undertaking sample Foundation & Practitioner papers, provided by APM Group Ltd, throughout the course.

Additional Notes
As suggested earlier, Capita Learning & Development sends pre-course reading to all delegates at least two weeks prior to course attendance. Additionally, there will be some evening study and exam preparation work throughout the course. A copy of the course manual ‘MSP – Managing Successful Programmes’ is provided to all MSP Foundation & Practitioner delegates attending our courses. For further assistance and guidance, please call 0800 022 3410.

Payment:
Must be made in full no later than 14 working days prior to the course start date.

Transfers:
The following charges will apply if you wish to transfer your booking to a later course date:
21+ working days before a course = 0% of the course fee
5-20 working days before a course = 50% of the course fee
1-4 working days before a course = 100% of the course fee

To transfer a delegate please call us on 0800 022 3410.

Substitute delegates:
You can transfer a place on a course to a substitute delegate free of charge.

Cancellations:
The following charges will apply if you wish to cancel a course:
21+ working days before a course = 20%
1-20 working days before a course = 100%

Cancellations must be received in writing via email to courses@capita-ld.co.uk and must contain the full booking details including organisation name, booking and delegate contact details.

For full terms and conditions please see Terms and conditions page, for other queries please refer to our frequently asked questions page.

Awarding body programmes

MSP® is a registered trade mark of the Cabinet Office. The Swirl Logo™ is a Trade Mark of the Cabinet Office.

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Enquiries

For more information on any of our services contact:

E: enquiries@capita-ld.co.uk
T: 0800 022 3410