APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) Podcast Series

1. Projects and Business as Usual

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and John discuss projects and business as usual. They look at the characteristics of a project, and explain how projects differ from the business as usual activities in an organisation.

This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Differentiate between projects and business as usual (BAU)

This podcast is just part of the parallel learning system for the APM Project Management Qualification. This approach includes a wide range of learning resources including a printed study guide, on-line e-learning, a tutor lead study group and a wide range of project management courses.

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2. Projects, Programmes and Portfolios

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Michelle and Jan discuss projects, programmes and portfolios. They discuss the difference between project management, programme management and portfolio management, and the way they fit in an organisations strategic goals.

This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Differentiate between project management, portfolio management and programme management
• Outline the relationship between programmes, projects and strategic change
• Describe situations where the use of programme management may be appropriate

 

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3. The Project Environment

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Jan and Michelle discuss the project environment. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain tools and techniques used to determine factors which influence and impact projects (including PESTLE, SWOT, and VUCA)
• Explain the impact of legal and regulatory environment on projects (such as the impact on working conditions, risk management, governance and sustainability)

 

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4. Regulation in Projects

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, John and Paul discuss regulation in projects. They talk about the impact of regulation on projects, including working conditions, risk management and governance.

This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain the impact of legal and regulatory environment on projects (such as the impact on working conditions, risk management, governance and sustainability)

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5. Organisational Structures

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Jan and John discuss organisational roles within projects. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• The difference between types of permanent and temporary organisation structures (including functional, matrix and project)
• Explain the way in which an organisational breakdown structure is used to create a responsibility assignment matrix

 

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6. Project Roles

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and Jan discuss project roles. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain the role and key responsibilities of the project manager
• Differentiate between the responsibilities of the project manager and the project sponsor throughout the project.
• Describe other roles within project management (including users, project team members, the project steering group / board and the product owner)

 

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7. Project Management Office

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Jan and Michelle discuss the project environment. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Describe the functions and benefits of different types of project office (including project / programme / portfolio management office (PMO), embedded PMO, central PMO and hub and spoke PMO).
• Explain why aspects of project management governance are required (such as the use of: policies, regulations, functions, processes, procedures and delegated responsibilities.

 

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8. Project Life Cycles

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and John discuss project life cycles. This includes look at the differences, phases and reviews in linear, iterative and hybrid life cycles. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Differentiate between linear, iterative and hybrid life cycles
• Explain why projects are structured as phases in a linear life cycle
• Explain the differences between a project life cycle and an extended life cycle

 

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9. Communication

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and Jan discuss the communication. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain the benefits, to a project, of a communication plan
• Explain the relationship between stakeholder analysis and an effective communication management plan
• State factors which can positively or negatively affect communication

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10. Conflict and Negotiation

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, John and Paul discuss the conflict and negotiation. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• State sources of conflict within a project
• Explain ways in which conflict can be addressed (such asThomas Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument)
• Explain how to plan and conduct negotiations (including ZOPA, BATNA, and ‘Win Win’)

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11. Leadership

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Jan and Paul discuss leadership. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain how leadership impacts on team performance and motivation (using models such as Maslow, Herzberg and McGregor)
• Explain why it may be necessary to change leadership styles to effectively support the management of a project

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12. Teams and Teamworking

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and Jan discuss the conflict and negotiation. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Describe the characteristics and benefits of effective teams and teamwork
• Explain factors which impact on the leadership of virtual teams
• Explain factors which influence the creation, development and leadership of teams (using models such as Belbin, Margerison-McCann, Mysers-Briggs, Hackman, Tuckman, Katzenbach and Smith)

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13. Defining and Managing Project Scope

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and John discuss scope management. This podcast aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain how to define scope in terms of outputs, outcomes and benefits (including use of product, cost and work breakdown structures)

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14. Requirements and Configuration Management

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, John and Jan discuss requirements and configuration management. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain how to establish scope through requirements management processes (such as gather, analysis, justifying requirements, ad baseline needs)
• Explain how to manage scope through configuration management processes (such as planning, identification, control, status accounting, and verification audit)

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15. Change Control

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and Jan discuss change control. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain different stages of a typical change control process (such as request, initial evaluation detailed evaluation, recommendation, update plans, and implement)

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16. Business Case and Investment Appraisal

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Jan and John discuss business case and investment appraisal. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain the importance of a business case throughout the project life cycle
• Explain what is meant by benefits management (including identification, definition, planning, tracking and realisation)
• Explain investment appraisal techniques used by a project manager (including Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Net Present Value (NPV))

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17. Information Management

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Michelle and John discuss information management. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain an information management process (including collection, storage, curation, dissemination, archiving, and the destruction of information)

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18. Project Management Plan

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Michelle and John discuss the project management plan. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain the relationship between the deployment baseline and the development of a project management plan in linear and iterative life cycles
• Explain the importance of producing a project management plan
• Describe the typical contents of a project management plan

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19. Estimating

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and John discuss estimating. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain the approaches to producing estimates (including parametric, analogous, analytical and Delphi)
• Explain the reasons for and benefits of re-estimating throughout the project life cycle

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20. Stakeholder Management

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and John discuss stakeholder management. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain the relationship between stakeholder analysis, influence and engagement
• Explain the importance of managing stakeholder expectations to the success of a project

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21. Scheduling

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast Michelle and Paul discuss scheduling. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Describe ways to create and maintain a schedule (including critical path and Gantt charts)
• Differentiate between critical path and critical chain as scheduling techniques

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22. Resource Management

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and John discuss stakeholder management. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Describe how resources are categorised and allocated to a linear life cycle schedule
• Differentiate between resource smoothing and resource levelling

 

A transcript of this Resource Management podcast episode can be found here.

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23. Earned Value

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and John discuss earned value. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain why a project manager would use earned value management
• Interpret earned value data (including variances and performance indexes)
• Explain the benefits of using interpretation of earned value data

 

The transcript of this podcast episode is also available here.

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24. Risk and Issue Management

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and John discuss risk and issue management. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain each stage in a risk management process (such as identification, analysis response, and closure)
• Explain proactive and reactive responses to risk (such as avoid, reduce, transfer or accept and exploit, enhance, share and reject)
• Explain the benefits of risk management
• Explain the key aspects of issue management

 

The transcript of this podcast episode is also available here.

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25. Quality - Planning, Assurance and Control

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast Paul and Jan discuss quality control, quality management and quality assurance. This podcasts aims to address the following APM PMQ assessment criteria;

• Explain what is meant by quality planning
• Differentiate between quality control and quality assurance

 

Here is a summary of the different aspects of quality within a project management environment:

Quality Planning

A project manager will always need to create a quality plan detailing how the project will produce products of the required quality. Included in the quality plan will be the following:

• Roles and Responsibilities related to quality issues
• The processes to be followed for both production and testing procedures
• A description of how continual improvement will performed
• Details of quality assurance such as supplier vetting
• Details of quality control techniques such as Pareto Analysis
• How to establish and manage interactions with other project processes such as configuration management

Quality Assurance

Quality assurance demonstrates how the necessary quality will be achieved and in doing so instils confidence in stakeholders regarding quality levels of the final outcome.

 

The typical components of quality assurance are:

Training

Are members of the project team competent and fully trained to complete the work assigned to them.

Audit

A formal, external audit of processes provides reassurance that the project will be carried out as expected.

Supplier Accreditation

When goods and materials are supplied to be used in creating the products that will form the project deliverables then those goods or materials must be assessed to be of the required quality.

Lessons Learned

Lessons should be learned throughout the project and effectively communicated so that any problems are resolved at the point they are being made. This ensures the root of the problem is identified rather than issues recurring again and again.

 

Quality Control

Quality control measures will vary widely depending on the type of project and the type of project deliverable. The key similarity, however, will be a comparison of the final deliverable with the original specification.

Some of the quality control techniques that might be used in a project management environment include:

• Pareto analysis
• Walk-throughs
• Process control charts
• Visual inspection and measurement
• Continuous improvement

 

The full transcript of this podcast episode is available here.

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26. Procurement

In this APM Project Management Qualification (BoK7) podcast, Paul and John discuss procurement. This podcast is ideal for anyone doing one of the APM PMQ project management courses and aims to address the following assessment criteria:

• Explain the purpose, typical content and importance of a procurement strategy
• Differentiate between different methods of supplier reimbursement (including fixed price, cost plus fee, per unit quantity, and target cost)
• Differentiate between different contractual relationships
• Explain a supplier selection process

A procurement process is used by companies in the acquisition of goods and services. This will usually have a defined procurement strategy document and include details on selecting suppliers, setting up contracts and management of those contracts.

Because the procurement strategy document is a standard project document it needs to be in place at the start of a project as it is an important factor at the same time as considering the business case of a project.

Typical parts of the procurement strategy documentation are:

 

Make or buy decision:

Would it be better to produce the required goods within the organisation or would it be more efficient or cost-effective to use an external producer/suppler. This decision can only be made when the specification of the product is fully understood.

 

Contractual relationship:

There is a wide choice of contractual agreement types fro the single contract between the client and supplier to more complex agreements between the client and a main contractor and between main contractor and sub-contractors.

 

Reimbursement methods:

These are the payment terms and the way in which the goods or services will be paid for. This could be as simple as a fixed-price method for a clearly specified product through to much more flexible arrangements where an innovative new product is being developed by the supplier for the client.

 

Supplier selection:

Large organisations will usually have an established process to help in the selection of the right suppliers, most usually through a competitive tender process where several suppliers provide costs for the required product/service. The aim being for the organisation to acquire the product or service at the most competitive price.

 

Contract administration:

This should be a regular, ongoing process throughout the term of the contract to confirm that both supplier(s) and client are complying with the terms of the contract which they have agreed.

 

Feedback and review:

This is important in any type of strategy in order to learn lessons about what went well and what did not; in order to improve the process for future projects.

 

 

• Read the full transcript of this podcast episode here.

 

 

This podcast is just part of the Parallel Learning System for the APM Project Management Qualification. This approach includes a wide range of learning resources including a printed study guide, on-line e-learning, a tutor lead study group and a wide range of project management courses.

 

 

 

 

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