528 Courses

Better Business Cases™ Foundation and Practitioner: In-House Training Using this best-practice approach will allow organizations to reduce unnecessary spending and improve the decision-making process which gives you a greater chance of securing necessary funding and support for initiatives. The goal of the combined foundation and practitioner course is to develop a candidate's ability to deliver a comprehensive business case through encouraging expanded knowledge to guide the practical application of theoretical foundations. Upon the completion of this course, a candidate will be able to start applying the model to a real business case development project. The outline presented in the course overview will be addressed in the first 2 days, with the Foundation exam conducted on the morning of Day 3. Then the topics will be revisited at a deeper level, for 2 more days, with the Practitioner exam conducted on the afternoon of Day 5. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Develop the lifecycle of a business case and establish the relationships between the five cases Apply the steps in the business case development framework, in order to support the production of a business case, using the Five Case Model, for a given scenario. Overview of Better Business Cases Alignment with the strategic planning process Importance of the Business Case using the Five Case Model Overview of the Five Case Model Purpose of the key stages in the development of a spending proposal Purpose of a Business Justification Case Business Case Development Process Purpose of project / programme assurance and assurance reviews Responsibility for producing the Business Case Determining the Strategic Context and Undertaking the Strategic Assessment Scoping the Scheme and Preparing the Strategic Outline Case Planning the Scheme and Preparing the Outline Business Case Procuring the Solution and Preparing the Full Business Case Implementation and monitoring Evaluation and feedback Making the Case for Change Agree on the strategic context Determine spending objectives, existing arrangements, and business needs Determine potential business scope and key service requirements Determine benefits, risks, constraints, and dependencies Exploring the Preferred Way Forward Agree on critical success factors Determine long list options and SWOT analysis Recommend a preferred way forward Determining Potential Value for Money Revisit the short list Prepare the economic appraisal for short-listed options Undertake benefits appraisal Undertake risk appraisal Select preferred option and undertake sensitivity analysis Preparing for the Potential Deal Determine the procurement strategy Determine service streams and required outputs Outline potential risk apportionment Outline potential payment mechanisms Ascertain contractual issues and accountancy treatment Ascertaining Affordability and Funding Requirement Prepare the financial model Prepare the financial appraisals Planning for Successful Delivery Plan programme / project management Plan change and contract management Plan benefits realization Plan risk management Plan programme / project assurance and post-project evaluation Procuring the Value for Money Solution Revisit the case for change Revisit the OBC options Detail procurement process and evaluation of best and final offers (BAFOs) Contracting for the Deal Set out the negotiated deal and contractual arrangements Set out the financial implications of the deal Ensuring Successful Delivery Finalize project management arrangements and plans Finalize change management arrangements and plans Finalize benefits realization arrangements and plans Finalize risk management arrangements and plans Finalize contract management arrangements and plans Finalize post-project evaluation arrangements and plans

Project Estimating and Scheduling: In-House Training Establishing realistic estimates and goals for projects that support business objectives and meet client expectations is one of the most challenging aspects of project planning. Delivering those results within the agreed-upon time, cost, and quality constraints is also challenging. Attempting to meet impossible deadlines with limited budgets often leads to unplanned product shortfalls, causing long-term support and utilization problems. We have all anguished about this recurring problem, but without having the skills or knowledge to take action, we are unable to break the cycle! The goal of this course is for you to be able to support business objectives and meet client expectations by selecting the right planning approach for realistic and cost effective schedules, as well as project budgets. To achieve that, you will focus on gaining the necessary knowledge, skills, and techniques. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Use the work breakdown structure (WBS) as the basis for effective estimating of project resources Estimate effort and duration using a variety of techniques Develop preliminary schedules using the critical path method Apply a variety of optimization techniques to refine preliminary schedules Establish realistic schedule and cost baselines, with appropriate contingency reserves Explain how earned value management (EVM) contributes to control time and cost performance Foundation Concepts Project management basic definitions and concepts PES Key driver: competing constraints PES Process and success factors Project Definition and the WBS Project definition overview Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Decomposition: WBS development technique Resource Planning Resource planning overview Identifying resource requirements Identifying and filling resource gaps Applying resource planning tools Effort and Duration Estimating Estimating overview Estimating perspectives and approaches Estimating techniques Effort and duration estimating best practices Project Scheduling Overview of project scheduling Dependencies and the project network diagram Critical path method (CPM) Optimizing the schedule Budget, Risk, and Contingency Planning Overview of budget, risk, and contingency planning Estimating costs Determining the budget Project risk management processes Planning contingency reserves Project Baseline and Control Overview of project baseline Negotiating and the project baseline Earned value management (EVM) Project variances and actions Project control

Portfolio Management for Stakeholders: In-House Training This course equips and enables project, program, and functional managers (line managers) to support and contribute to starting, restarting or sustaining the implementation and effectiveness of portfolio management in an organization. Emphasis is on improving collaboration and planning between functional business areas and project/program organizations responsible for delivering investments in business change through successful delivery of projects and programs. Good functional, project, and program managers become 'great' when they understand, advocate, and effectively contribute to achieving 'real' business value through portfolio management. What you Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Outline the benefits of portfolio management State the importance of linking the strategic objectives to the initiatives in the organization Chart the portfolio governance structure Assist in the inventory of ongoing and new initiatives Identify portfolio and sub-portfolio categories Support the PMO in the prioritization of initiatives using Multi-criteria Analysis and other selection tools Collaborate with the PMO in balancing the portfolio based on the optimal use of resources and priorities Participate in resource forecasting and planning Demonstrate thresholds and variance reporting criteria Describe the purpose of Stage Gate Funding Report status against a portfolio delivery plan Present your initiative in Stage Gate Reviews List the benefits that are being realized by the initiative Foundation Concepts Portfolio Life Cycles Portfolio Governance Prioritizing Initiatives Prioritize Foundation Multi-Criteria Analysis Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Strategic Alignment Balancing the Portfolio Resources, Budgets, and Equipment Communicating Decisions Planning the Portfolio Planning Review Cycles Using Stage Gate Funding Setting Thresholds and Variance Reporting Tool Examples Portfolio Delivery 'Cycle' Project and Program Life Cycles Stage Gate Reviews Interaction with the Portfolio Delivery Board Project, Program, and Functional Managers Roles and Responsibilities

Portfolio Management for Stakeholders This course equips and enables project, program, and functional managers (line managers) to support and contribute to starting, restarting or sustaining the implementation and effectiveness of portfolio management in an organization. Emphasis is on improving collaboration and planning between functional business areas and project/program organizations responsible for delivering investments in business change through successful delivery of projects and programs. Good functional, project, and program managers become 'great' when they understand, advocate, and effectively contribute to achieving 'real' business value through portfolio management. What you Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Outline the benefits of portfolio management State the importance of linking the strategic objectives to the initiatives in the organization Chart the portfolio governance structure Assist in the inventory of ongoing and new initiatives Identify portfolio and sub-portfolio categories Support the PMO in the prioritization of initiatives using Multi-criteria Analysis and other selection tools Collaborate with the PMO in balancing the portfolio based on the optimal use of resources and priorities Participate in resource forecasting and planning Demonstrate thresholds and variance reporting criteria Describe the purpose of Stage Gate Funding Report status against a portfolio delivery plan Present your initiative in Stage Gate Reviews List the benefits that are being realized by the initiative Foundation Concepts Portfolio Life Cycles Portfolio Governance Prioritizing Initiatives Prioritize Foundation Multi-Criteria Analysis Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Strategic Alignment Balancing the Portfolio Resources, Budgets, and Equipment Communicating Decisions Planning the Portfolio Planning Review Cycles Using Stage Gate Funding Setting Thresholds and Variance Reporting Tool Examples Portfolio Delivery 'Cycle' Project and Program Life Cycles Stage Gate Reviews Interaction with the Portfolio Delivery Board Project, Program, and Functional Managers Roles and Responsibilities

Project Management Fundamentals: In-House Training Many projects are performed by highly competent and effective people who have little or no project management training. They perform projects like process improvement, marketing campaign development, new product development, event planning and production, and other 'tasks' which are projects. Project Management Fundamentals (PMF) is designed to support those people who need a solid foundation in project management, without being unnecessarily burdened to learn it while on the job. The course offers practical skills, concepts, and principles that can be taken back to the workplace, along with insights needed to adapt them to specific project environments. In today's environment, that means possibly adapting to Agile / Iterative methods. So, we have recently added key Agile concepts to provide a basic understanding of shifting towards agility. Since PMF's course goal is to achieve quality performance by learning effective planning and control, the focus is on a process orientation and an analytical, systems-oriented approach. Together, these frameworks promote project-related problem solving and decision-making skills necessary for real world projects. They honor project needs for collaboration, clear communications among people, and interpersonal and relationship skills. Recognition of these needs are woven throughout PMF, but are highlighted in two specific areas: Module 2 - People and Projects Module 8 - Executing, Communicating, and Developing the Team What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Describe the value of strong project management Identify characteristics of a successful project and project manager Recognize how current agile / adaptive practices fit within project management Explore project management processes, including Initiating, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing Utilize project management processes and tools, based on case studies and real-world situations Create an initial project plan Use standard project management terminology Foundation Concepts Project management and definitions Value and focus of PM Competing constraints and project success Project life cycles People and Projects People and projects overview The project manager The project team People and projects in organizations Initiating and Defining Requirements Initiating the project Developing the project charter Conducting stakeholder assessments Defining requirements Using the Work Breakdown Structure Defining the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Developing a usable WBS Using the WBS Managing Project Risk Making the case for risk management Overview to planning for risk Identifying risks Analyzing risks Planning responses to risks Implementing response and monitoring risks Considerations for adaptive environments Estimating Defining an estimate Estimating approaches Estimating practices Estimating cost Validating an estimate Scheduling Defining the scheduling process and related terminology Sequencing and defining dependencies Determining the critical path Considering schedule risks and optimizing the schedule Executing, Communicating, and Developing the Team From baseline to execution Project communications and stakeholder relationships High-performing teams Monitoring and Controlling Defining monitoring and controlling Viewing control through the competing demands lens Variance Analysis and corrective action (Earned Value) Considerations in adaptive environments Closing the Project Closing projects Focusing on project transition Focusing on post-project evaluations

Project Management Fundamentals Many projects are performed by highly competent and effective people who have little or no project management training. They perform projects like process improvement, marketing campaign development, new product development, event planning and production, and other 'tasks' which are projects. Project Management Fundamentals (PMF) is designed to support those people who need a solid foundation in project management, without being unnecessarily burdened to learn it while on the job. The course offers practical skills, concepts, and principles that can be taken back to the workplace, along with insights needed to adapt them to specific project environments. In today's environment, that means possibly adapting to Agile / Iterative methods. So, we have recently added key Agile concepts to provide a basic understanding of shifting towards agility. Since PMF's course goal is to achieve quality performance by learning effective planning and control, the focus is on a process orientation and an analytical, systems-oriented approach. Together, these frameworks promote project-related problem solving and decision-making skills necessary for real world projects. They honor project needs for collaboration, clear communications among people, and interpersonal and relationship skills. Recognition of these needs are woven throughout PMF, but are highlighted in two specific areas: Module 2 - People and Projects Module 8 - Executing, Communicating, and Developing the Team What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Describe the value of strong project management Identify characteristics of a successful project and project manager Recognize how current agile / adaptive practices fit within project management Explore project management processes, including Initiating, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing Utilize project management processes and tools, based on case studies and real-world situations Create an initial project plan Use standard project management terminology Foundation Concepts Project management and definitions Value and focus of PM Competing constraints and project success Project life cycles People and Projects People and projects overview The project manager The project team People and projects in organizations Initiating and Defining Requirements Initiating the project Developing the project charter Conducting stakeholder assessments Defining requirements Using the Work Breakdown Structure Defining the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Developing a usable WBS Using the WBS Managing Project Risk Making the case for risk management Overview to planning for risk Identifying risks Analyzing risks Planning responses to risks Implementing response and monitoring risks Considerations for adaptive environments Estimating Defining an estimate Estimating approaches Estimating practices Estimating cost Validating an estimate Scheduling Defining the scheduling process and related terminology Sequencing and defining dependencies Determining the critical path Considering schedule risks and optimizing the schedule Executing, Communicating, and Developing the Team From baseline to execution Project communications and stakeholder relationships High-performing teams Monitoring and Controlling Defining monitoring and controlling Viewing control through the competing demands lens Variance Analysis and corrective action (Earned Value) Considerations in adaptive environments Closing the Project Closing projects Focusing on project transition Focusing on post-project evaluations

Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP)® Business Relationship Management (BRM) embodies a set of competencies (knowledge, skills, and behaviors) to foster an effective business value-producing relationship between a service provider and its business partners. The BRM Discipline rests on solid research-based foundations verified and enhanced over a decade of successful implementations in leading organizations across the world. Proven to be equally effective for shared services including Human Resources, Finance, Legal, external service providers and others, BRM practices have enjoyed widespread adaptation in IT. The Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP) training and certification program provides a foundational understanding of business relationship management (BRM) for individuals at every experience level, with the training and certification designed to provide a solid baseline level of knowledge. In other words, this course provides the 'why' and the 'what' - 'why' business relationship management is important to your organization and 'what' a BRM capability does to add value to your organization. This interactive course, with discussions, partnering activities, and periodic knowledge checks, will provide you with the opportunity to apply learning to your unique organizational situations, creating solutions that you can use immediately upon returning to your workplace. This practical knowledge will allow you to demonstrate immediate value in your role, as well as prepare you for the BRMP Certification exam. What You Will Learn This course provides a foundational understanding of Business Relationship Management. Upon completion of the BRMP® course, participant will be able to demonstrate their understanding: Explain what business relationship management is and the value it provides to an organization Articulate the need for an organization to move beyond traditional goals of profit and products to encompass those that are appropriate for a relationship-centered organization Describe the importance of integrating business relationship management into every element of their organization Define the importance of educating their organization that a mature BRM capability will evolve culture, build partnerships, drive value, and satisfy purpose Apply business relationship management to their organization's triple bottom line of people, purpose, and planet Explain the basic knowledge, skills, and mindsets of the business relationship management role Clarify the core business relationship management approaches, tools, and templates used to achieve results Illustrate the value and impact the BRM capability has on an organization by completing a draft of the BRM Capability Workbook BRM Introduction - The Bigger Picture Why BRM = why now? Relationship-centered organization Theory of 'relationshipism' Triple bottom line BRM defined Activity domains BRM challenges BRM Capability BRM capability framework Organizational purpose and strategy Now-to-new Evolve culture Build partnerships Drive value Satisfy purpose Limitless growth and improvement BRM Capability - Evolve culture Evolve culture framework Purposeful narrative Desired behaviors Influential relationships Personal growth BRM Capability - Build partnerships Build partnerships framework BRM role competency model Relationship maturity and quality Partnering mindsets Relationship discovery Relationship nurturing BRM Capability - Drive value What is value? Types of value Sources of value Drive value framework BRM role competency model Value discovery Value realization Value results BRM Capability - Satisfy purpose Satisfy purpose framework BRM role competency model Through the BRM capability Through the triple bottom line Social value BRM Capability - Wrap-up Evolve culture capability framework Build partnerships capability framework Drive value capability framework Satisfy purpose capability framework BRM Role Our purpose and what we believe Role clarity Single point of focus BRM Code of Ethics BRM Role Competency Model BRM mindset Scope of BRM role BRM role with organizational factors BRM Team Our purpose and what we believe BRM team definition BRM team purpose, mission, and vision Assessing the value of a BRM team Organizing a BRM team Leading a BRM team Transition management Coaching BRMs Closing - BRM Key Learnings Key learnings from each module Closing - BRMP Course Wrap-Up What to do in the next 30/60/90/365 days Digital badge After passing the exam Recap learning objectives Review learning objectives Review expectations Course feedback

Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP)®: Virtual In-House Training Business Relationship Management (BRM) embodies a set of competencies (knowledge, skills, and behaviors) to foster an effective business value-producing relationship between a service provider and its business partners. The BRM Discipline rests on solid research-based foundations verified and enhanced over a decade of successful implementations in leading organizations across the world. Proven to be equally effective for shared services including Human Resources, Finance, Legal, external service providers and others, BRM practices have enjoyed widespread adaptation in IT. The Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP) training and certification program provides a foundational understanding of business relationship management (BRM) for individuals at every experience level, with the training and certification designed to provide a solid baseline level of knowledge. In other words, this course provides the 'why' and the 'what' - 'why' business relationship management is important to your organization and 'what' a BRM capability does to add value to your organization. This interactive course, with discussions, partnering activities, and periodic knowledge checks, will provide you with the opportunity to apply learning to your unique organizational situations, creating solutions that you can use immediately upon returning to your workplace. This practical knowledge will allow you to demonstrate immediate value in your role, as well as prepare you for the BRMP Certification exam.

Better Business Cases™ Foundation Better Business Cases™ is based on the Five Case Model - which is the UK government's best practice approach to structuring spending proposals and making effective business decisions. Using this best practice approach will allow organizations to reduce unnecessary spending and improve the decision-making process which gives you a greater chance of securing necessary funding and support for initiatives. The goal of the foundation course is to enable participants to work effectively with a team to develop a strong business case in their work environment. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Describe the philosophy and the underlying rationale of the Five Case Model Identify different types of business case, their purpose, who is responsible for them Recognize when the different types are required in the development of a spending proposal Develop the business case in relation to other recognized and recommended best practices for programme and project management Overview of the Five Case Model Five key components of a business case and the order in which they are presented Three key stages in the development of a spending proposal Definition of a programme / project and the key differences between programmes and projects Purpose of a Business Justification Case (BJC) and in what circumstances it should be considered Purpose of a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) Purpose of an Outline Business Case (OBC) Purpose of a Full Business Case (FBC) Relationship between policies, strategies, programmes, and projects and their deliverables Developing the Strategic Case Purpose and core content of a Strategic Case Purpose of SMART robust spending objectives and the key objectives for spend: economy, efficiency, effectiveness, re-procurement, and statutory or regulatory compliance Four main categories of benefits criteria and the parties involved in their development Three key categories of risk Purpose of identifying constraints and dependencies Difference between direct and indirect benefits Developing the Economic Case Purpose and core content of an Economic Case Purpose of critical success factors and the key critical success factors based upon the Five Case Model Purpose of the long list options and how to generate options and undertake SWOT analysis Minimum of four short-list options, how they are derived, and what they should include (Reference Project / Public Sector Comparator [PSC]) Difference between the preferred way forward and the preferred option Purpose, objectives, key participants, and outputs of Workshop Stage 2 - identifying and assessing the options Rules that should be followed for the treatment of costs and benefits Key differences between economic appraisals and financial appraisals Factors considered when selecting the preferred option Developing the Commercial Case Purpose and core content of a Commercial Case Guiding principles when apportioning risk between the contractual parties Purpose of payment mechanisms Purpose of Step 9 in the development framework: Contracting for the deal Developing the Financial Case Purpose and core content of a Financial Case The financial statements required for all projects The possible impacts to consider Developing the Management Case Purpose and core content of a Management Case Purpose of a programme / project management strategy, framework, and plan Purpose of a change management strategy, framework, and plan Purpose of a benefits realization strategy, framework, and register / plan Purpose of a risk management strategy, framework and register / plan Purpose of a post programme / project evaluation strategy, framework, and plan

Better Business Cases™ Foundation: In-House Training: In-House Training Better Business Cases™ is based on the Five Case Model - which is the UK government's best practice approach to structuring spending proposals and making effective business decisions. Using this best practice approach will allow organizations to reduce unnecessary spending and improve the decision-making process which gives you a greater chance of securing necessary funding and support for initiatives. The goal of the foundation course is to enable participants to work effectively with a team to develop a strong business case in their work environment. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Describe the philosophy and the underlying rationale of the Five Case Model Identify different types of business case, their purpose, who is responsible for them Recognize when the different types are required in the development of a spending proposal Develop the business case in relation to other recognized and recommended best practices for programme and project management Overview of the Five Case Model Five key components of a business case and the order in which they are presented Three key stages in the development of a spending proposal Definition of a programme / project and the key differences between programmes and projects Purpose of a Business Justification Case (BJC) and in what circumstances it should be considered Purpose of a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) Purpose of an Outline Business Case (OBC) Purpose of a Full Business Case (FBC) Relationship between policies, strategies, programmes, and projects and their deliverables Developing the Strategic Case Purpose and core content of a Strategic Case Purpose of SMART robust spending objectives and the key objectives for spend: economy, efficiency, effectiveness, re-procurement, and statutory or regulatory compliance Four main categories of benefits criteria and the parties involved in their development Three key categories of risk Purpose of identifying constraints and dependencies Difference between direct and indirect benefits Developing the Economic Case Purpose and core content of an Economic Case Purpose of critical success factors and the key critical success factors based upon the Five Case Model Purpose of the long list options and how to generate options and undertake SWOT analysis Minimum of four short-list options, how they are derived, and what they should include (Reference Project / Public Sector Comparator [PSC]) Difference between the preferred way forward and the preferred option Purpose, objectives, key participants, and outputs of Workshop Stage 2 - identifying and assessing the options Rules that should be followed for the treatment of costs and benefits Key differences between economic appraisals and financial appraisals Factors considered when selecting the preferred option Developing the Commercial Case Purpose and core content of a Commercial Case Guiding principles when apportioning risk between the contractual parties Purpose of payment mechanisms Purpose of Step 9 in the development framework: Contracting for the deal Developing the Financial Case Purpose and core content of a Financial Case The financial statements required for all projects The possible impacts to consider Developing the Management Case Purpose and core content of a Management Case Purpose of a programme / project management strategy, framework, and plan Purpose of a change management strategy, framework, and plan Purpose of a benefits realization strategy, framework, and register / plan Purpose of a risk management strategy, framework and register / plan Purpose of a post programme / project evaluation strategy, framework, and plan