News

Start the new year with the right knowledge! If you missed out on the five articles below, we give you another chance to download and learn! These are the top 5 most visited and downloaded articles of 2017, enjoy your reading! 1. PRINCE2 for small scale projects: This article is an excellent review of the challenges people face when using PRINCE2 for smaller projects, together with very useful and practical recommendations on how to scale down the method without losing the essence of its principles. It explains explains the rationale for a ‘light-touch’ approach to the management of small projects based on PRINCE2. Since the launch of PRINCE2 in 1996 organizations have worked to embed the method and this introduction describes some of the outcomes. DOWNLOAD 2. PRINCE2 2017 Chapter 4 Tailoring and adopting PRINCE2: The fourth chapter of the official PRINCE2 2017 manual has the goal to show how to use the inherent flexibility of PRINCE2 to tailor it for any project and build an organizational PRINCE2-based project management method. This chapter includes situations that the project manager may encounter. The chapter also contains specific lists of tips that refer to how to ensure that the tailoring of the methods actually adds value, and illustrates 5 common situation where to tailor PRINCE2. DOWNLOAD 3. Five Ways PRINCE2 can be Agile: AGILE practices started in the 1990 : working groups of experts edited the “AGILE Manifesto” followed quickly by the launch of the “AGILE alliance”. At present, there are about 13 agile approaches used in project management. We asked our expert trainer and consultant Antoine Breton IF and HOW PRINCE2 can be tailored and applied to the so called “Agile Projects”. In this article, he shows 5 PRINCE2  elements that can actually give Agility to your projects. DOWNLOAD 4. What’s the future for Project Management? This article from QRP International has the goal to explain what’s the general status within Project Management world, and how the changes in this environment have helped raise the need for an updated version to PRINCE2. By analyzing the latest report in Project Management, the “The Future Project Management Professional” from Axelos, the article examines the 4 main aspects of change for the profession of Project Manager, and highlights how these changes have a great impact on a well-known and internationally recognized certification like PRINCE2. DOWNLOAD 5. PMO Definitions Challenges Solutions: This is a KEY document for anyone embarking in a PMO challenge. As project management has become accepted as a mainstream management discipline, many organisations have established a PMO (Portfolio, Programme or Project Management Office) function to increase the maturity of their project management approach. This paper describes the community of stakeholders that benefit from the existence of a PMO, the services that are most important to them, the key challenges that PMOs are facing and the ideas that are helping to meet these challenges. DOWNLOAD PRINCE2 2017 Process Map Not an article, but still in the TOP 10 of most downloaded item from our Knowledge Center is definitely the updated PRINCE2 Process Map to 2017 version: a graphical ‘at a glance‘ representation of all the PRINCE2 processes and how they fit together and it shows all the processes involved in running a PRINCE2 project from start to finish. This version of the Process Map is the renewed and updated one according to the new 2017 version of the PRINCE2 method. A key document for all project managers that want to run a project following the recommended steps. DOWNLOAD REMAIN UP-TO-DATE Register to our newsletter to receive new content directly in our inbox!

At QRP International we are committed to provide the best quality of training as well as the broadest offer, to make sure we can answer to our customers' needs.

This is what we kept in mind when working to prepare the new 2018 training calendar, now available at this link to be checked out: find out all upcoming dates for your Project, Programme, Portfolio, PMO, IT and Change Management training!

OUR TRAINING OFFER

As ATO (Accredited Training Organization) QRP Internationals offers the full range of Project, Programme, Portfolio, PMO and Change Management accredited training:

• Project Management: PRINCE2, AgilePM, PRINCE2 Agile, PMP
• Programme Management: MSP
• Portfolio Management: MoP
• PMO Management: P3O
• Change Management: Change Management
• IT Service Management: ITIL

NEED TO TRAIN YOUR TEAM?

Looking for an easy and efficient solution to train your team of colleagues, or department? Get in touch to discover our in-house, tailored and customized solutions!

A big news was released few days ago by Axelos, the joint venture company, created in 2013 by the Cabinet Office, and owner of ITIL.

"Over the last 18 months we have embarked on a programme of extensive research (30+ global workshops engaging with over 300 partners, professionals and SMEs so far), and we recognise that this update cannot be done without the cooperation and input from our valued partner network. We are keen to work with you all to ensure that the new guidance will support you and your customers."

What we know so far about the ITIL Update:

• The core elements of ITIL will remain and will continue to derive from the experiences of thousands of specialists and experts. Research has confirmed that ITIL remains best practice for the ITSM industry.
• The Update will include practical guidance on how ITIL is adopted in conjunction with practices such as DevOps, Agile and Lean.
• Individuals who have already certified will have their current certifications recognised in the new scheme.

A COMMUNITY-LED INITIATIVE: GET INVOLVED!

Axelos actively encourages practitioners to provide insight and feedback to directly influence the update via the Global Research Programme. Currently more than 650 members have signed up to the programme. Sign up too!

The best way to integrate new knowledge and to put what you're learnt into practice, is to appeal to as much of your senses as possible. Classroom courses and expert trainers make sure to integrate different learning styles to their teaching skills. Let's see in the examples below which ones are the recognized learning styles, and how a trainer can make sure to integrate them into a training class of Project Management:

• Auditory learning: learning through listening and hearing. The expert trainer explains the matter, focusing on the most important parts of the Project Management methodology, highlighting tools and techniques.
• Visual learning: in order to better understand the ideas and concepts, drawings on flip charts can be an important tool to integrate new information. If we take the example of a PRINCE2 training, imagine what impact could have a drawing that explains you the difference between outputs, business change, outcomes and benefits. A picture says more then a thousand words. In some cases, you will even see that these drawings are put on the walls in the training room and are continuously used by the trainer when he/she comes back to this topic.
• Kinesthetic learning: this is what we call “learning by doing”. Classrooms are ideal places to exercise on how to put the theory into practice. Let's take the example of an AgilePM training: an important tool is the PRL (Prioritized Requirements List). What better way to understand how to create this list then to do this in group during the course? It’s a first-hand experience that will help you to put it into practice when you’re back in the office.

Knowing the existence of different learning styles, why is a classroom course the best option to learn? 1) The Trainer as Subject Matter Expert In front of you, there’s a person who’s an expert on the new skills you want to acquire. He/she has real life experience and is able to give practical examples and answer your questions on the spot. There’s also room to tackle subjects and questions outside of the standard context of the course which will enable you to link it immediately to your own working environment. 2) Sharing Experiences and Social Interaction Each of the participants in the course have their backpack filled with experiences from the past. Some are good, other are bad experiences and both are valuable. By sharing those experiences, everybody in the room can learn from those real life examples (even the trainer!). They add an extra dimension to what we’ve just learned and see the link with real life. 3) Expert Trainers Who Make the Learning Experience Engaging and Interesting There’s a good reason why someone is moderating the training. Trainers we are there to help you understand the subject and are able to correct you so that you’re getting it right by the end of the course. Trainers are the glue between the subject and all of the participants and will engage everyone so that it becomes a highly valuable experience. The trainer is also able to instantly adapt the learning experience to the needs of the delegates so that it becomes personalized for each individual. 4) Quiet, Dedicated Time Out of the Office to Really Focus on Your Needs Most of us have a very demanding job with people constantly coming into our office or calling us with, as always, very urgent and critical questions or tasks. This is not the ideal environment to study, learn and develop new skills. Even at home, with the kids or the partner running around the house, you’re not in a good environment to get the most out of a training. A classroom training offers you the possibility to take a distance from home and work so that you can deep dive into something new. You can focus on only one thing which will improve the integration of the skills so that you can put it into practice more quickly. Our trainer and consultant David Maegerman wrote an article about the different learning styles, the reasons why a classroom course has several advantages, and the difference with a distance-online-learning training. Want to have a soft copy of the full article? Follow this link for the free download.  

PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environment) is a structured method for the effective and efficient management of projects. It is a generic, best-practice approach for the management of all types of projects and it has become the de facto standard for organising, managing and controlling projects globally. The PRINCE2 process map is always one of the most downloaded documents from QRP International's download area: this graphic view of the PRINCE2 process involved within a project is a useful and relevant tool for:

• Project managers: anyone who is applying PRINCE2 at work would benefit from having a clear and graphic overview of the method.
• Course delegates: QRP International provides an A3 Process Map version as part of the training material during our courses, both classroom and distance learning.

PRINCE2 2017: a Renewed Process Map, updated to NEW Version

PRINCE2 is firmly established as the world’s most practiced method for project management and is globally recognized for delivering successful projects. In July 2017 AXELOS released the first major update to PRINCE2 since 2009, with the 2017 version of the method: this brings along a new PRINCE2 guidance and new Foundation and Practitioner examinations. The 2017 update of PRINCE2 builds on the proven strength of PRINCE2, so the following key elements remain unchanged:

• 7 Processes forming the project management
• 7 Principles forming the basis of good method of managing projects
• 7 Themes, knowledge areas which support specific key areas of project management

The purpose of the updated version is to better respond to current imperatives for flexibility and agility, and the new guidance wants to do so with a renewed focus on the importance of tailoring. The PRINCE2 Process Flow Diagram is a graphical 'at a glance' representation of all the PRINCE2 processes and how they fit together and it shows all the processes involved in running a PRINCE2 project from start to finish.   The QRP International's PRIN​CE2 Process map does not show only all the processes and how each stage integrates with the others but also what action needs to be taken for each process, which are the important products, documents or information to deliver during the stage​ for each management level​​ (Team Manager, Project Manager, Project Board). Looks complicated but it's not! This process map is a strong asset during your PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner course and an helpful reference ​once back in the office​ as a project manager.

Download your version!

Our PRINCE2 Process Map is available for download: don't miss this chance!

More on PRINCE2: Literature, Articles and Case Studies

QRP International has a full selection of recommended reading for professional qualifications: check out our Literature page to stay up to date with the latest publications on Project, Programme, Portfolio and Change Management. Furthermore, our commitment is to share with the community practical cases and real life scenarios about the methods, as well as white papers that illustrate the features of each Best Practice: check out our Articles & Case Studies page to find valuable content, easy to download!

We all know it’s quite easy to get lost in the world of Project Management certifications: not only because there are many different methods and best practices that you could choose from, but especially because the right choice depends on many different factors: the type of projects, the sector of organization, the direction of your career, the certification required by industry standards etc. In two of the latest Market Reports from Axelos, needs for professionalization and continual improvement are clearly highlighted.

1. The “Future of Project Management Professional” report from Axelos identifies the key trends that will impact the project, programme and portfolio management profession, and refers to Democratization of Project Management: “76% of project managers believe project management will become a basic business skill.” This means that Project management will more and more become a basic business skill: every aspect of our roles can be considered in terms of project managing and delivering. “Project management will be used widely by individuals across the whole organization and will be seen as a valuable business skill. This democratization of project management will only enhance the value of project managers, setting them apart as professionals as they evolve their roles to be more strategic and effect change within the business.”
2. The “Axelos 2017 PPM Benchmarking Report” has the interesting and insightful title “The value of Project Management Excellence”. This research has identified a lot of challenges facing project managers, but there were also some positive findings too, especially around ongoing development. Continuing professional development (CPD) an activity that is commonly associated across professions such as accountancy, medicine and law and that, however, the majority of project managers recognize as very important for the continuous improvement. The only thing that could hold them back is a lack of investment from organizations; but, if you delve deeper, both individuals and organizations are on the same page: individuals want to do their job more effectively and organizations want to improve the effectiveness of their teams.

So: you are a Project Manager, and most probably hold one (or more) great Project Management certifications. What's next? Most of professionals in the Project Management world already know about Programme, Portfolio and PMO management; some of them already work at PMO level for example, having helped with the set up of a "Centre of Excellence" in their organization. But how do you know what is the right next step after Project Management? How to identify the right action that can fit your needs? We've developed 3 webinars to help you answer these questions!

3 Webinars to Guide you through Programme, Portfolio and PMO management

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT ELEMENTS AND BENEFITS In you are managing bigger-and-bigger projects and driving transformational business change, your next step is Programme Management. MSP, Managing Successful Programmes, represents proven good practice in programme management in successfully delivering transformational change, drawn from the experiences of both public and private sector organisations. MSP defines programme management as “the action of carrying out the coordinated organization, direction and implementation of a dossier of projects and transformational activities (i.e. the programme), to achieve outcomes and realize benefits of strategic importance to the business”. In fact it’s key to understand that a programme is not only a “bigger project”, but can also be a set of coordinated projects. PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: BENEFITS OF STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT If you are a manager with a top-down perspective (you are managing a budget and a team, or a group of strategic initiatives), your next step could be MoP Portfolio Management, a one week training with certification. MoP, Management of Portfolios, provides an overview of all change activities including what is in the portfolio, what it is costing, what risks are faced, what progress is being made, and what the impact is on business as usual and the organization’s strategic objectives. MoP helps you answer the question “Are we doing the right projects?” by prioritizing the right projects and programmes to undertake. INTRODUCTION TO PMO MANAGEMENT: ROLES, TECHNIQUES AND BENEFITS If your focus is on improving the way that projects are done (so that more projects succeed and change is more effective), then you should consider P3O, which explains how to use offices to support projects, programs and portfolios. You can facilitate effective portfolio, programme and project management in your organization by implementing a PMO Office. This may be provided through a single permanent office which may exist under several different names e.g. PMO, Portfolio Office, Centre of Excellence, Enterprise or Corporate Programme Office. It may otherwise be provided through a linked set of offices (portfolio office, programme offices, project offices), both permanent (enabling/supporting business objectives and consistency of delivery) and temporary (enabling/supporting specific programmes and projects), providing a mix of central and localized services.