MSP Managing Successful Programs Foundation Practitioner

The MSP 5-day Practitioner course is ideal for:

• Senior Executives
• Programme Sponsors
• Programme Managers
• Business Change Managers
• Programme and Project Management Consultants

The purpose of the practitioner qualification is to confirm you have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the MSP guidance to act as an informed member of a programme management team. This level is also required for programme management professionals progressing toward the Advanced MSP Practitioner qualification, and those aspiring to become programme management professionals in the future.

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• Understand the facts, terms and concepts relating to each theme
• Understand how each governance theme relates to the principles
• Understand the approach to the treatment of each governance theme
• Appreciate how each governance theme is applied throughout the transformational flow
• Understand the responsibilities involved in each governance theme
• Apply and tailor the relevant aspects of each governance theme to a given scenario
• Identify, analyse and distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate application of each governance theme in a given scenario
• Application of MSP in an exam environment

You should ideally have experience of managing or working in programmes prior to attending. Knowledge of the PRINCE2® project management method is advantageous but by no means mandatory, but some exposure to a project management method will aid understanding of how the programme works with these projects.

Pre-Course Reading

• The success on the course will be enhanced by close attention to the pre-reading materials. It is recommended that candidates spend 1- 3 hours working through the pre-reading.
• Additional work will be required in the evening during the course, consisting of consolidation reading, mock examination questions and exercises. This evening work is an integral part of the course and you should expect to spend about 2 hours each evening on these activities.
• You will be presented with the official MSP manual: 'Managing Successful Programmes' on the first day of your course.

Proof of identification

If taking an exam, candidates are required to provide Photo ID with a valid signature e.g. driving license, passport or named work ID badges prior to sitting their exam. Failure to produce this ID will result in their exam results being withheld until proof of ID is provided. Please note that if proof is not provided within 40 days, candidate's exam results will be null and void and a re-sit would be required.

Reasonable Adjustments Policy

Course Material

Please ensure you bring a device such as a mobile phone, tablet or laptop to be able to load your course material on to as you may need this for use in the evenings.

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
• Realizing the benefits
• Closing a programme

MSP Foundation and Practitioner Examinations

Everyone will sit the MSP foundation and practitioner examination during the course.

The MSP Foundation examination takes place at 3pm on the third day. You must bring signed photo ID with you for any exam (passport, driving licence, student card).

The foundation exam consists of:

• 75 multiple choice questions
• 1 hour
• Closed-book
• Candidates require a minimum of 35 correct answers (50%) to pass.

The MSP Practitioner examination takes place on the afternoon of the last day at 1pm. 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 you must pass the foundation exam before attempting the practitioner exam and by successfully passing the practitioner exam, you attain 'Registered Practitioner' status.

MSP® is a [registered] trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.

The Swirl logo™ is a trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.