PM² Project Management Training | PM² Foundation Training in Pittsburgh

PM² Foundation Training Course Outline

Module 1: Key Project Concepts (KC)

• Definition and Characteristics of a Project
• Function of Project Management 
• Function of Project Documentation
• At A High Level the Required Knowledge and Skills of a Project Manager
• Relationship Between Outputs, Outcomes, and Benefits
• Relationship Between Projects and Programmes 
• Relationship Between Projects and Portfolios 
• Relationship Between Projects and Business as Usual
• Different Ways of Organising Projects Within an Organisation
• Consequence of Each Approach of Organising Projects Within an Organisation

Module 2: Key PM² Concepts (KP) 

• PM² Project Phases and Gates
• What Makes a Project a PM² Project and how PM² Supports?
• Programme and Portfolio Management
• Agile Approach to Projects and its Key Characteristics
• Purpose of Monitor and Control
• House of PM²
• Reason of Applying a Phased Approach to a Project
• Goal of Each Element of the Phased Approach of PM²
• Swim Lane Diagram
• PM² Mindsets
• Concept of Tailoring PM² at Organisational and Project Level

Module 3: Project Organisation and Roles in PM² (OR) 

• Definition of a Stakeholder
• Responsibilities of Each of the Roles in the Pm² Model for Project Governance
• The Layers and Roles of the Project Organisation
• The Difference Between the Provider and Requestor Side of a Project and How this is Reflected in the Governance Structure
• The Specific Role of the Project Steering Committee and the Required Roles Partaking
• The Function and Abbreviations of the (RAM) RASCI Table

Module 4: Phases of a Project (PP) 

• Activities in Each Phase of the Project
• Purpose of Each Activity Phases
• For Each Activity in the Initiating Phase
• For Each Activity in the Planning Phase
• For Each Activity in the Executing Phase
• For Each Activity in the Closing Phase
• How Each Phase is Finalized and How to Prepare for this
• The Composition of the Project Handbook in PM² in General Terms
• The Composition of the Project Handbook in PM², Specifically the Sections on:
  • Project Roles and Responsibilities 
  • Project-Specific Plans
  • Domain-Specific Artefacts
  • Escalation Procedure
  • Resource Needs
• relation of the Project Handbook in PM² to other PM² artefacts
  • Requirements Management Plan
  • Project Change Management Plan
  • Risk Management Plan
  • Quality Management Plan
  • Issue Management Plan 
  • Communications Management Plan
• Function and Composition of the Project Initiation Request in PM²
• Function and Composition of the Business Case in PM²
• Function and Composition of the Project Charter in PM²
• Techniques for Supporting the Initiating Phase
• Function and Composition of the Project-End Report in PM²
• Techniques for Supporting the Closing Phase

Module 5: Project Planning (PL) 

• Supporting Techniques for Creating the Project Work Plan
  • Deliverables Breakdown Structure
• Supporting Techniques for Creating the Project Work Plan, Specifically:
  • Resource Levelling
  • Critical Chain Method (CCM)
• The Three Parts of the Project Work Plan
• Techniques for Creating the Project Work Plan
  • Work Breakdown Structure
  • Effort and Cost Estimates
  • Three-Point Estimates
  • Scheduling
  • Gantt Charts
  • Critical Path Method

Module 6: Monitoring and Control (MC) 

• Activities of Monitor and Control
• Purpose, Inputs, Guidelines, Outputs (Artefacts), Accountable, Responsible, and Supporting Roles Involved of:
  • Monitor Project Performance
  • Control Schedule
  • Control Cost
  • Manage Stakeholders
  • Manage Requirements
  • Manage Project Change
  • Manage Risk
  • Manage Issues and Decisions
  • Manage Quality
  • Manage Deliverables Acceptance
  • Transition management
  • Business implementation
  • Managing outsourcing
• The Checklists Provided in PM² for Monitor and Control
• The Purpose of Transition Management
• The Purpose of Business Implementation
• The Purpose of Managing Outsourcing

Module 7: Risks and Issues (RI) 

• The Definition of the Concepts of:
  • Issue
  • Urgency
  • Impact
  • Priority
  • Risk
  • Residual Risk
  • Secondary Risk 
  • Risk Appetite
  • Risk Reserve
  • Risk Owner
  • Risk Likelihood
  • Risk Impact
  • Risk Level
• Techniques for Managing Risks, Specifically:
  • Risk Likelihood/Impact Matrix
  • Pareto Analysis
  • Decision Trees
  • Ishikawa or Fishbone Diagram
• The Function of the Risk Management Plan
• The Composition of the Risk Management Plan
• The Function and Composition of the Risk Log in PM²
• The Various Risk Response Strategies:
  • Avoid
  • Reduce 
  • Accept
  • Enhance 
  • Exploit
  • Transfer/Share
• Steps That Make Up the Risk Management Process
• The Function of the Issue Management Plan
• The Composition of the Issue Management Plan
• The function of the Issue Log in PM²
• Function of the Decision Log in PM²
• The Composition of:
  • The Issue Log
  • The Decision Log
• The Steps that Make up the Issue Management Process
  • Managing Project Issues
  • Managing Decisions

Module 8: Change, Quality, and Requirements Management (CQ)  

• The Definition of Requirements
• The Definition of Change (Requests)
• The Function and Composition of the Requirements Management Plan
• The Function and Composition of the Deliverable Acceptance Plan
• Understand the Management Plans and Relationships Between Change,
• Quality, And Requirements Management  
• The Function and Composition of the Project Change Management Plan 
• The Function and Composition of the Change Log In PM²
• Steps That Make Up the Change Management Process
• The Relationship Between the Quality Assurance and Management of Quality
• The Relationship Between the Management of Requirement, Project Change and Deliverable Acceptance
• The Function and Composition of the Quality Management Plan

Module 9: Reporting, Communication and Stakeholder Management (RS) 

• The Purpose of Managing Project Stakeholders and Information Distribution
• The Different PM² Reports Defined:
  • Project Status Report
  • Project Progress Report
  • Quality Review Report 
  • Contractor Status Report
• The Function and Composition of the Communication Management Plan 
• The Function and Composition of the Project Stakeholder Matrix in PM²
• The Techniques for Managing Stakeholders, Specifically the
  • Stakeholder Interest/Influence Matrix (SIIM)
  • Earned Value Management

Who should attend this PM² Foundation Training Course?

The PM² Foundation Training Course is centred around the PM² methodology, the European Commission's official Project Management methodology.

A few of the professionals who will benefit from the course are:

• Project Managers
• Project Team Members
• EU Institution Staff Members
• Stakeholders
• Consultants

Prerequisites of the PM² Foundation Training Course

For the PM² Foundation Training Course, no prior knowledge of the PM² methodology is required. However, a basic understanding of Project Management concepts can be beneficial for participants to grasp the content effectively.

PM² Foundation Training Course Overview

PM² Project Management is a globally recognised project management methodology that provides a structured approach for managing projects effectively. It provides a consistent framework for project management, ensuring standardisation and alignment across projects. Studying this training helps individuals effectively plan, execute, and monitor projects, enabling them to contribute to successful project outcomes. This training benefits organisations by equipping project teams with the necessary skills and knowledge for improved project performance, increased customer satisfaction, and better organisational project maturity. Individuals holding these valuable skills increase their marketability and unlock career opportunities in the dynamic field of project management.

The Knowledge Academy’s 2-Day APMG PM² Foundation Training course provides delegates with in-depth knowledge and skills in project management using the PM² methodology. During this training, they will learn PM² concepts, project phases, and gates, as well as how PM² supports programme and portfolio management. They will also learn about how to effectively manage projects using the PM² methodology. This course will be led by our highly skilled and knowledgeable trainer, who has years of experience in teaching and will help delegates get a complete understanding of this course.

Course Objectives

• To understand the various fundamental concepts and characteristics of a project
• To grasp the key PM² concepts and their application in programme and portfolio management
• To familiarise oneself with the roles and responsibilities within a project organisation
• To acquire proficiency in project planning techniques and the composition of a project handbook
• To develop skills in monitoring and control, risk and issue management, and stakeholder communication
• To gain knowledge and expertise in change, quality, and requirements management in projects

After attending this training, delegates will be able to apply the key project management concepts and principles to initiate, plan, execute, and close projects using the PM² methodology. They will also be able to develop comprehensive project plans and utilise various project management techniques.

Skills Gained from PM² Foundation Certification Training

The PM² Foundation Training equips learners with the skills needed to manage projects using the PM² methodology in a structured and practical manner. Professionals gain a clear understanding of how to apply project management principles across the project lifecycle, with a focus on control, governance, and successful delivery.

Key skills gained from this course include:

• Project Lifecycle Management: Apply the PM² project lifecycle from project initiation and planning through execution, monitoring, and closure.
• Project Planning With PM² Artefacts: Develop structured project plans, charters, and logs, define activities, manage timelines, and support controlled project progress.
• Project Monitoring and Control: Track project progress, review performance against plans, manage deviations, and support informed decision-making.
• Stakeholder and Communication Management: Engage stakeholders, manage expectations, and maintain clear communication throughout the project lifecycle.
• Risk and Issue Management: Identify project risks and issues, assess their impact, and apply structured mitigation and escalation approaches.
• Change and Requirements Management: Manage project changes and maintain documented requirements using PM² processes to support governance and traceability.
• Quality and Control Practices: Apply quality controls, monitor performance, and ensure project deliverables meet agreed standards.

What’s included in the PM² Foundation Training Course?

• PM² Foundation Training Examination
•  World-class training sessions from Experienced Instructors
•  PM² Foundation Training Certificate
•  Digital Delegate Pack

PM² Foundation Exam Information 

The PM² Foundation Exam assesses participants' understanding of the PM² (Project Management Methodology) framework. This certification focuses on evaluating an individual's knowledge of project management principles and practices within the PM² framework. The exam format is as follows: 

• Question Type: Multiple Choice 
• Total Questions: 100 (each question is worth 1 mark) 
• Total Marks: 100 Marks  
• Pass Marks: 70%, or 70/100 Marks 
• Duration: 75 minutes 
• Open Book/Closed Book: Closed book