MSP® Foundation

This MSP certification course provides an in-depth exploration of MSP program management. MSP starts by identifying the strategic business goals of a program and the benefits to be delivered. Practitioners then move on to defining responsibilities for the individuals involved before establishing the rest of the program.

The ongoing monitoring and coordination of projects, auditing programs for quality assurance, and managing transition points are all important elements covered within this course. It also looks at the identification and management of risks, as well as competently closing programs once they have achieved their goals - both essential parts of MSP.

The MSP Foundation course is fully-accredited, and includes the following modules:

Module 1: Course overview
This module introduces MSP and explores what makes it unique and useful. Learners will also receive an outline of the course content and learning objectives.

Module 2: Program introduction and principles
This module outlines what constitutes a ‘program’ in the context of an MSP environment. Learners will explore the characteristics of programs, how different program environments inter-relate, and the triggers for different programs.

The module also examines the three concepts of MSP: Principles, Governance Themes, and Transformational Flows. The focus is on Principles and how they contribute to program success. They include Alignment With Corporate Strategy, Leading Change, and Communicating the Future.

Module 3: Governance themes
This module explains the nine Governance Themes within MSP. These include Leadership and Stakeholder Management, Planning and Control, The Business Case, and Quality Management.

Learners will also become familiar with the most important roles in MSP governance, including the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) and the Program Office.

Module 4: Programme Organization
This module details the key roles defined within the MSP methodology, including:

• Sponsoring Group
• SRO
• Program Board
• Program Manager
• Business Change Manager (BCM)
• Business Change Teams
• Program Office

Learners will explore the membership of different MSP groups, the core functions of various roles, and the key features of an organized program. They will also come to understand the purpose and responsibilities of different roles, as well as the purpose of an MSP organization structure.

Module 5: Vision
This module outlines the Vision Statement and its purpose and content. Students will learn to structure a well-made MSP Vision Statement with all the appropriate characteristics and content. The module also describes the theme of Vision Governance as it relates to the MSP roles of SRO, Program Manager, and BCM.

Module 6: Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
This module describes the role of stakeholders in MSP, along with their interactions with Program Managers. Learners will explore various definitions within MSP and the purpose of different tools associated with good stakeholder engagement. The four elements of successful communication with stakeholders are also covered, as well as how to make messages as impactful as possible.

Module 7: Benefits Management
This module explores the practices of MSP Benefits Management, including the four validation tests for judging a benefit. The language of explaining benefits in change terms is also covered. Learners will study how to describe the outputs, outcomes, and benefits of a program. They will also examine the four-step cycle for managing benefits within a program.

The purpose and content of the benefits map and benefits profiles will then be described, as will Benefits Realization Management as a Governance Theme.

Module 8: Blueprint Design and Delivery
This module explores POTI models (Processes, Organization, Technology, and Information) as tools for designing and delivering blueprints. The content explores the content found in MSP blueprints and the purpose of tranches and workstreams.

Module 9: Planning and Control
This module examines the definition of resources within MSP and their role in program Planning and Control. Learners will explore the core concepts within Planning and Control, including resource management plans and strategies. They will also explore project dossiers in detail.

The module also covers project monitoring and the management of dependencies within a program.

Module 10: Business Case
This module specifies the content and purpose of a business case throughout the lifecycle of a program. It also offers an explanation and breakdown of program costs.

Module 11: Risk and Issue Management
This module explains the key definitions within Risk Management, including ‘Risk’, ‘Issue’, and ‘Configuration Item’. Learners will study how to describe Impact, Probability, and Proximity, as well as different types and sources of risks. The essential tools around risks and issues will also be covered, including risk registers and probability impact grids.

Module 12: Quality and Assurance Management
This module explores the delivery of high-quality programs. This includes auditing, measurement, assurance, and gated reviews. Learners will be familiar with the purpose and scope of the key tools required for managing quality and assurance in MSP programs. These include Information Management Plans, Asset Management, and Configuration Management.

Module 13: Transformational Flow
This module covers the six Transformational Flow Processes as defined in MSP. Each process is explored in turn, and the core activities within pre-transition, transition, and post-transition are described. Learners will also examine the key documents within Transformational Flow, including the Program Brief and Program Definition Document.

The module also covers the importance of the process of Closing a Program and the associated tests.

Practice Exam Simulators
Learners will be invited to complete a number of practice exams that will simulate the official MSP Foundation Exam.

Click here to download a detailed copy of the course syllabus.

The course includes an exam voucher for the MSP Foundation examination. This can be taken virtually online using a service provided by PeopleCert.

MSP Foundation

• Objective testing
• 75 questions (5 trial questions)
• 35/70 to pass or 50%
• 60 minutes
• Closed book
• Online proctored exam OR an approved test center (Pearson Vue/Prometric)

More organizations today are realizing the benefits of employing certified program managers to enable transformational changes. This increase has been noted across multiple industries. Because of this, MSP certification can greatly improve a candidate’s career prospects. It can guide individuals into more lucrative careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as various locations all over the world.

Training your staff in MSP will create a common understanding of a robust framework, mitigating communication issues and productivity losses during crucial programs. A unified methodology can help key stakeholders stay involved while also remaining aware of their responsibilities. All of this can greatly expedite the delivery of the projects within a program.

This MSP Foundation training course helps organizations to:

• Break down corporate initiatives into clearly-defined projects
• Plan the projects that support a program
• Identify key stakeholders and define their roles and responsibilities
• Manage risks and change efficiently
• Deliver projects within agreed budgets and timeframes
• Audit to enable quality maintenance