Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This is an intensive exam preparatory course that offers a clear, comprehensive understanding of Managing Successful Programmes (MSPTM), a standardized, proven programme management framework widely accepted as best practice for managing strategic change programmes. Through practice questions and sample exams, workshops and evening study, you gain the knowledge required to take the MSPTM Foundation and Practitioner examinations in order to achieve certification. Expert MSPTM accredited instructors provide the necessary guidance to prepare you for the examinations through a series of interactive sessions and exercises that reinforce the concepts taught on the course. Who will benefit from this course? This course is for anyone participating in an organizational change programme and those who want to achieve the MSPTM Foundation and Practitioner Certification. This course is ideal for: Programme Managers who need to appreciate or apply a formal programme management approach in practice Leaders of change programmes who wish to assess its relevance for their programme or its adoption across their organisation Business managers who are tasked with undertaking or contributing to a major change programme Project Managers who need to increase their understanding of how projects operate within a programme environment Programme/project support personnel and other specialist advisors who wish to understand the practical application and implementation of MSPTM Consultants who require the qualification in order to successfully implement the MSPTM approach in their client organisations What background do I need? Some previous training or experience of working in a change programme or project environment would be an advantage and is highly recommended. Why should I use MSPTM? MSPTM is a well established management tool used by numerous private and public sector organisations for bringing together people, activities and information to achieve change in organisations. MSPTM offers a structured framework of principles, themes and processes that describe how to set up and run a change programme. MSPTM is often mandated by European and UK-based organisations and bodies and is provided licence-fee free by the UK Government. It is subject to a comprehensive review and update process to ensure quality standards. How much pre-course preparation is there? Prior to the course, Learning Tree sends you preparatory material designed to give you every advantage in preparing for and passing the examinations, including: A copy of the official MSPTM manual, Managing Successful Programmes A Pre-Course Workbook to help structure your reading of the MSPTM manual Prior to the course, we recommend at least 4 hours of study of these MSPTM materials. By not completing the full amount of pre-course study, you may find yourself at a significant disadvantage. This course has been designed with the assumption that each attendee has completed the pre-course study. How much evening work is there? You should commit to at least 2 hours of home study each evening. MSPTM is a Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Introduction to MSPTM and Programme Management 2.0 Exams and Exam Technique .5 Governance Themes 9.0 Identifying a Programme 2.0 Defining a Programme 2.0 Managing Tranches 1.0 Delivering the Capability 1.25 Realizing the Benefits 1.5 Closing a Programme .5 Preparing for the Practitioner Examination 1.5 Taking the Examinations 3.25 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. Which edition of the MSPTM manual is used in the course? This course uses the Third edition Crown Copyright 2007 version of Managing Successful Programmes. This is the latest and most recent release of the MSPTM manual. Which MSPTM examination should I take? There are two examinations available on this course and ideally you will sit both - Foundation and Practitioner. You cannot attain the Practitioner level without passing the Foundation level examination. Each successive level demonstrates a higher level of knowledge and understanding of how to apply MSPTM approaches to real programme situations. Are examination fees included in the course price? Yes. How do the examinations work? The foundation examination is taken on day 4. This is a 40 minute, closed-book, multiple choice paper with no reference material allowed. There are 50 questions and you need to score 25 marks or more to pass. The Practitioner examination is taken on Day 5. This is a 150 minute, closed book objective test examination with 9 compulsory sections each worth 20 marks, with no reference material allowed and inclusive of reading time. Each section will address a single MSPTM syllabus area. The pass mark is 90 marks out of a possible 180. What happens if I fail the Foundation or Practitioner Examinations? If you fail either examination you may retake either one at a later date but you do not have to re-attend this course. If you do not pass the Foundation exam but pass the Practitioner exam you will need to retake and pass the Foundation exam in order to achieve the Practitioner certification. If you pass the Foundation exam but fail the Practitioner exam you will receive an APM Group Foundation Certificate from Learning Tree. Additional cost is involved in retaking the Practitioner Examination. How long does it take to receive results? The APM Group strives to deliver results to Learning Tree within 4 weeks of receiving examination papers for marking. The growing popularity of MSPTM may however mean that this timescale may occasionally be a little longer. Learning Tree will mail your examination results as soon as they are received from APM Group. Will I get my Practitioner Examination score? If you pass the exam, you will not receive your score. If you fail the exam, however, your score is provided to you together with feedback on your answers to each question. What is the relationship between Learning Tree and the APM Group? Both Learning Tree and this course have been accredited by the APM Group. As an accredited training organisation (ATO), Learning Tree and its trainers have been approved to deliver this course and invigilate the MSPTM Foundation and Practitioner exams. APM Group is responsible for providing the examination papers, marking and notifying Learning Tree of the results. Why should I take this course from Learning Tree? For over thirty years, Learning Tree has been dedicated to providing the finest management and technology training available. With this course, we continue our commitment to provide the highest course quality. Learning Tree delivers MSPTM training using decades of classroom training experience, unique MagnaLearnTM course delivery technology, and rigorous course design techniques. Will I learn about programme management tools on this course? No. This course covers the MSPTM approach. It does not cover any programme or project management tools or software. For information on project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Microsoft Excel, etc., please refer to separate Learning Tree courses. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? Learning Tree offers other courses in related subject areas. This course complements the following: 287, Strategic Project Management: Achieving Organizational Goals provides you with the skills to manage complex projects by applying advanced tools and techniques to meet conflicting business and technical demands. 296, Project Management: Skills for Success provides you with the knowledge and skills you need to organise, plan, schedule, monitor, and control projects. For those with limited project management experience, this course is an useful pre-requisite to Course 176. 290, Management Skills provides new and experienced managers with the practical skills needed to lead effective teams of technical professionals. 211, Introduction to Business Analysis: Defining Successful Projects is valuable to those who need to apply the knowledge and skills of the business analyst role within their organisation. How is this course different from Course 177? Course 177, PRINCE2™: Achieving Practitioner Certification, focuses specifically on building a clear, comprehensive understanding of PRINCE2TM, the standardized, proven project management methodology widely accepted as best practice for managing all sizes and types of projects. This course addresses wider change in organisations where projects are co-ordinated to achieve a strategic objective and realise benefits for the organisation. Since MSPTM does not cover the interpersonal skills of management, you may be interested in additional Learning Tree courses such as: 288, Change Management: People and Process develops your abilities to successfully design, implement and participate in a change process and also prepares you for the APMG Principles of Change Management Exam. 292, Communication Skills: Results Through Collaboration emphasises specific tools and techniques for improving listening skills, delivering effective messages and bridging gaps that create communication breakdowns. 294, Influence Skills: Getting Results Without Direct Authority focuses on the specific skills, behaviours and attitudes that enable you to achieve desired results.

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