BCS Foundation Certificate in IS Project Management

Learn how to run projects the BCS way
Overview

The IS Project Management Foundation Certificate provides an understanding of the principles of project management, including those that relate to project planning, monitoring and control, change control and configuration management, effort estimation, quality and risk management and communication between project stakeholders.

Course Code
ISEB3FOU
Duration
3 Days
Course Type
Public or Private
Max Delegates
12
Special Instructions
Photographic ID is required to sit the examination (please see below)
Available as Nutshell
No

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Purpose of this course

The Foundation Certificate is designed for anyone involved in or affected by IT projects: this extends to users, buyers and directors. Delegates will learn the principles of project management, including planning, monitoring and control, change management, risk management and communication between all involved. No prior experience of project work is required.

Who is this course for

This certificate is appropriate for anyone involved in or affected by IT projects. This course is a suitable addition for individuals who already hold the Prince qualification.

At a high level, PRINCE2 provides a framework for projects in terms of what needs to be done, by whom and by when. The Foundation Certificate in IS Project Management provides a range of techniques of how those things can be done. An example would be that in PRINCE2, a critical step of creating a plan is estimating, but it does not say how estimating should be done as this would depend on the project type and context. The Foundation Certificate in IS Project Management provides an explanation and analysis of various estimating techniques that are available so that a Project Manager or Business Analyst can decide which would be most suitable to use.

You will learn how to

Delegates will acquire knowledge of:

  • Projects and Project Work
  • Project Planning
  • Monitoring and Control
  • Change Control and Configuration Management
  • Quality (including procedures and processes)
  • Estimating
  • Risk
  • Project Communications and Project Organisation
Benefits for your organisation

Attendees should gain a good appreciation of the advantages to using a method such as that advocated here by BCS. They will appreciate the vagaries of estimating a project, how to approach planning and also how to manage risk in a project.

Benefits for you as an individual

The course will give you an insight into the world of Project Management, you will become familiar with an approach to plan, monitor and control a project.  The course will also prepare you for the BCS Foundation Certificate in IS Project Management examination. 
 

Introduction to Project Management

The definition of projects
The purpose of project planning and control
Programmes and projects

Project Justification

Types of planning documents

Project Business Case and TOR

Purpose and content of business case

Project Lifecycles

System and Project development life-cycles
Variations of project life cycles
Implementation strategies
Post implementation review

Project Organisation

Identifying stakeholders and their concerns
Roles and responsibilities in the project.
The project team and matrix management
Reporting structures and responsibilities

Project Communications and Teamwork

Management styles and communication
Team building and team dynamics
The reporting cycle and structures
Corrective action, Tolerance and contingency

Quality and Quality Control

Definitions of the term ‘quality’
Quality control versus quality assurance
Detection of defects and removal processes
Types of testing, inspection process, reviews
Principles of IS0 9001:2000
Supplier evaluation

Project Planning

Project deliverables and intermediate products
Work and product breakdowns
Product definitions
Relationship between products and activities
Check points and milestones
Lapsed time and effort required for activities
Activity networks
Critical Path Analysis
Resource allocation
Work schedules and Gantt charts

Estimating

Effort versus duration
Use of expert judgement and Delphi
Top-down and Bottom-up estimating
Identification of size drivers and productivity.
Estimation of effort.
Use of analogy in estimating

Risk

Definition of the term ‘risk’
Identification and prioritisation of risk
Assessment of risk exposure
Risk responses and actions
Assessment of risk reduction activities
Maintenance of risk registers and risk logs

Monitoring and Control

The project control life cycle Information collection
Team progress meetings
Presenting progress information
Use of earned value analysis

Change Control and Configuration Management

Exception reports and plans
Reasons for change and configuration management
Change control procedures and boards
Configuration management Purpose and procedures

Prerequisites

There are no formal entry requirements for the course or examination, but it is assumed that all delegates will have a basic knowledge of IT.

Pre-course work required

Some pre-course preparation work is required, along with some evening work during the course. Pre-course material will be sent 4-6 weeks before the course starts.