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APM PMQ (2024) Lifecycles (LO1)
1. Life cycles – This podcast discusses the distinct life cycle stages used to structure and organise a project, and covers:
a) The distinctive features of linear, iterative and hybrid life cycles (including why projects are structured as phases in linear life cycles) and when each is applicable.
b) The differences between a project life cycle and an extended life cycle.
c) How the context and culture of an organisation, and the needs of a specific project, influence the choice of life cycle and any adaptations that may be needed to the life cycle.
d) The strengths and limitations of different life cycles.
APM PMQ (2024) Transition Management (LO8)
8. Transition Management – This podcast discusses the integration of the outputs of a project into business-as-usual, and covers:
a) The basic requirements needed to support a successful transition, including considering business-as-usual throughout a project and planning for transition from the outset of the project.
b) The importance of knowledge transfer in the transition process, including learning from experience and continuous improvement.
c) How to engage stakeholders to agree a transition plan, including transfer of risks.
APM PMQ (2024) Assurance (LO7)
7. Assurance – This podcast discusses the ability of assurance to provide confidence to the governance board that a project is on track to deliver its objectives and the purpose of assurance within a project, including awareness of the scope, priorities and strategic aims of assurance activities.
APM PMQ (2024) Reviews (LO6)
6. Reviews – This podcast discusses how reviews are a way of gathering information to provide an assessment on the status of a project and the ongoing viability of the work, and covers:
a) The benefits of conducting reviews throughout the life cycle (including decision gates, benefits reviews and audits).
b) The factors which would typically be reported on to help ensure successful project outcomes.
c) The importance of producing information and collecting data to inform decision making and communicate actions and decisions to stakeholders.
d) Why activities may be re-planned after a review.
APM PMQ (2024) Leadership (LO12)
12. Leadership – This podcast discusses leadership as the way to empower and inspire others to deliver successful projects, and covers:
a) How leadership impacts on team performance and motivation (using models such as Maslow, Herzberg and McGregor).
b) Why it may be necessary to change leadership styles depending upon the situation.
c) The importance of a coaching and mentoring style in leadership, and the role of emotional intelligence.
APM PMQ (2024) Governance Arrangements (LO2)
2. Governance arrangements – This podcast discusses governance structures as a framework of
authority and accountability for the delivery of a project, which align with organisational practice, and covers:
a) Knowledge of different types of permanent and temporary organisation structures and their features (including functional, matrix, and project),and that an organisation’s governance approach will inform the approach used for a project.
b) Why there are distinct roles within project management and what the responsibilities of each role are (including users, project team members, the project manager, the project steering group/board and the product owner), and the differences in responsibilities of the project manager and project sponsor throughout the project.
c) Why aspects of project management governance are required (such as the use of policies, regulations, functions, processes, procedures and delegated responsibilities), and the impact of a project’s life cycle on its governance framework and the limits of financial authority.
d) The importance of linking projects to an organisation’s objectives.
APM PMQ (2024) Business Case (LO4)
4. Business Case – This podcast discusses the business case as the justification for the initiation, investment and/or continuation of a project in terms of benefits, costs and risks, and it covers:
a) The tools and techniques used to determine factors which influence and impact a project’s business case (including PESTLE, SWOT and VUCA).
b) The importance of regularly reviewing the impact of any changes in a project to the business case, and how the business case forms the baseline for the project.
APM PMQ (2024) Benefits Management (LO9)
9. Benefits Management – This podcast discusses benefits management as the monitoring of benefits realisation throughout a project, and covers:
a) What is meant by benefits management (including identification, definition, planning, tracking and realisation).
b) The importance of aligning benefits with strategic objectives and ways in which the benefits of a project can be communicated to stakeholders.
APM PMQ (2024) Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Management (LO10)
10. Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Management – This podcast discusses the ability to work with people internally and externally to achieve intended outcomes, and covers:
a) The relationship between stakeholder analysis, influence and engagement.
b) The relationship between stakeholder analysis and an effective communication management plan.
c) The benefits to a project of a communication plan.
d) The importance of managing stakeholder expectations to the success of the project.
e) The range of communication methods available and the importance of tailoring messaging to meet stakeholder requirements.
f) The factors which can positively or negatively affect communication.
APM PMQ (2024) Requirements Management (LO16)
16. Requirements Management – This podcast discusses the ability to capture and monitor the requirements of a project, and covers:
a) How to establish scope through requirements management processes (such as gather, analysis, justifying requirements and baseline needs).
b) How to manage scope through configuration management processes (such as planning, identification, control, status accounting and verification audit).
APM PMQ (2024) Solutions Development (LO17)
17. Solutions Development – This podcast discusses the ability to determine the optimal solution to satisfy agreed requirements, and covers:
a) How to evaluate and prioritise requirements in order to deliver the optimal solution, and the different approaches for different life cycle models, e.g. the use of MVP and MMP in iterative life cycles.
APM PMQ (2024) Procurement (LO5)
5. Procurement – This podcast discusses securing the provision of resources, choosing strategies for obtaining best value from supply chains, and covers:
a) The purpose and importance of a procurement strategy and the typical contents of a procurement strategy.
b) The stages of a supplier selection process, including how to plan the procurement process and conduct negotiations (for example ZOPA, BATNA and ‘Win Win’).
c) The features of different contractual relationships and why different methods of supplier reimbursement are used and when it is appropriate to use them (including fixed price, cost plus fee, per unit quantity and target cost).
APM PMQ (2024) Integrated Planning (LO19)
19. Integrated Planning – This podcast discusses the ability to incorporate multiple plans and processes into an integrated project management plan, and covers:
a) The format for an effective integrated project management plan and its typical contents.
b) The importance of producing an integrated project management plan.
APM PMQ (2024) Schedule Management (LO20)
20. Schedule Management – This podcast discusses the ability to undertake time-based planning with an emphasis on activities and resource, and covers:
a) How to define scope in terms of outputs, outcomes and benefits (including the use of product, work and cost breakdown structures).
b) The links and dependencies between activities within a project and business-as-usual activities, for example how business-as-usual activities, costs, quality, risks and scope can all impact the schedule for the project.
APM PMQ (2024) Resource Management (LO21)
21. Resource Management – This podcast discusses the ability to identify and schedule the required internal and external resources, and covers:
a) How to determine the resources required and their availability to deliver activities within a project.
b) How an organisational breakdown structure is used to create a responsibility assignment matrix (RACI).
c) How resources are categorised and allocated to both linear and iterative life cycle schedules.
d) The differences between resource smoothing and resource levelling.
APM PMQ (2024) Budgeting and Cost Control (LO22)
22. Budgeting and Cost Control – This budget discusses the ability to estimate costs, develop and agree budgets and monitor actual costs against forecast costs, and covers:
a) How to create a budget (including the use of a cost breakdown structure) and the different costs included in a budget (fixed, variable, direct, indirect etc.)
b) How to forecast and refine budgets using cost control techniques e.g. earned value.
c) How to monitor and report financial performance (including different types of financial reports).
d) How to close down finances at the end of a project.