EdyWood MSP® Foundation & Practitioner Certification Training
MSP® Foundation & Practitioner Certification Training: Self Paced Online Training

Key Highlights

Benefits of taking this course

What you will learn

MSP® (Managing Successful Programs®) is a proven framework that organizes complex programs into manageable, interrelated projects. The MSP training teaches you better program management skills, improved adaptability, and flexibility when working in a volatile, ever-changing program environment.

Who should join MSP certification course

Who can join MSP® Foundation & Practitioner Certification Training

This MSP course is right for professionals employed during a program management role, senior project managers, program managers, operations managers, and quality assurance professionals.
There are not any prerequisites for the MSP certification but candidates must pass the MSP Foundation-level exam to be eligible to require the MSP Practitioner exam.

Course content

This module provides an introduction to this Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Foundation course, as well as MSP itself. What is it? What is it used for? What makes MSP so unique?

The module will also outline the learning aims and objectives for the rest of the course.

Learning Objectives

This module introduces students to what constitutes a ‘programme’ in an MSP environment. This includes:

Characteristics of MSP programmes and programme management
How different elements in programme management environments relate to each other
The triggers for vision-led, emergent and compliance programmes

Students will learn the three core concepts which make up MSP: ‘Principles’, ‘Governance Themes’ and ‘Transformational Flows’. This module will give particular focus to the Principles, which improve the probability of a programme successfully achieving its objectives. They include:

Remaining aligned with corporate strategy
Learning from experience
Designing and delivering a coherent capability
Adding value
Focusing on benefits and threats to them
Envisioning and communicating a better future
Leading change

This module goes into more detail about the nine Governance Themes of MSP:

Organisation
Vision
Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
Benefits Realisation Management
Blueprint Design and Delivery
Planning and Control
The Business Case
Risk Management and Issue Resolution
Quality Management

Students will learn to identify the most important roles in MSP governance: the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), Programme Manager, Business Change Manager (BCM) and the Programme Office. They will also study the characteristics of MSP strategies and plans.

This module will go into more detail about the roles defined in MSP: the Sponsoring Group, SRO, Programme Board, Programme Manager, BCM(s), Business Change Team and the Programme Office. This will include the typical membership found in the Sponsoring Group and Programme Board, the core functions and two distinct roles of the Programme Office, and the three features of an effectively organised MSP programme.

By the end of the module, students will be able to identify the purpose and responsibilities of the Sponsoring Group, Programme Board, SRO(s), Programme Manager, BCM(s), Business Change Team and Programme Office. They will also be able to recite the purpose of the MSP organisation structure.

This module will cover the purpose and content of an MSP ‘Vision Statement’. Students will learn to identify the characteristics of a well-made vision statement and the types of content that they contain.

The module will also cover the main areas of focus for the ‘Vision’ Governance Theme in relation to the SRO(s), Programme Manager and BCM(s).

This module will cover the topic of stakeholders, the role they play in MSP programmes and how programme managers must interact with them.

As well as the definition of ‘stakeholder’ in the context of MSP, students will learn to identify the purpose of:

The influence/interest matrix
The programme communications plan
The stakeholder map
The stakeholder engagement strategy
Stakeholder profiles
Visioning workshops
The ‘do-nothing vision’

Students will come to understand the importance of stakeholders to a programme and the impact it can have on them, depending on the level and type of stakeholder. The module will also cover the communication process, with students learning the four core elements of successful communication, how to make messages more effective and how to ensure stakeholder participation even with non-participative media.

The module will focus on the Governance Theme of ‘Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement’, as well as how it relates to the roles of SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices.

This module covers the Benefits Management practices of MSP. Students will learn to identify the four critical validation tests of a ‘benefit’ (DOAM), as well as how benefits are best described using change terms.

Students will also come to understand how to identify the outputs, capabilities, outcomes, benefits and disbenefits in given programmes. They will also learn the purpose and activities of each step of the generic four-step cycle for managing benefits on any programme.

The module will then move on to the purpose of the benefits map and benefits profiles, and the content typically found within them.

By the end of the module, students will be familiar with the main areas of focus for the Governance Theme of ‘Benefits Realisation Management’ in relation to SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices. They will also understand the reasons why benefits management can continue beyond the conclusion of a programme.

This module covers the design and delivery of blueprints, with particular focus on ‘POTI’ models (Processes, Organisation, Technology and Information).

Students will learn the definition of each element of POTI models, as well as the purpose and types of content typically found in MSP blueprints. They will also learn the specific purposes of tranches and work streams.

The module will also focus on the Governance Theme of ‘Blueprint Design and Delivery’, and how it relates to SRO(s), BCM(s), Programme Managers and Programme Offices.

This module covers the importance of programme planning and programme control. Students will look at the definition of ‘resources’ in MSP and how they relate to the Governance Theme of ‘Planning and Control’. The module will also cover the roles of SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices in relation to Planning and Control.

Students will learn the purpose of monitoring and controlling strategy, programme plans, projects dossiers, resource management plans and resource management strategies, as well as the content that is typically found in project dossiers. They will come to understand the ways in which live projects are monitored, and the three types of dependencies that must be managed during a programme.

This module focuses on the ‘Business Case’ Governance Theme. Students will learn to identify the purpose and types of content found in a typical business case, as well as the questions which it must be able to answer during the life cycle of a programme. The different types of programme costs will also be identified and explained.

Students will also focus on the roles played by SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices in relation to the Business Case Governance Theme.

This module covers the Governance Theme of ‘Risk Management and Issue Resolution’. Students will learn to define ‘risk’, ‘issue’ and ‘configuration item’, while also learning the defined risk responses of MSP. They will also become familiar with the three perspectives associated with managing programme issues and risks.

By the end of the module, students will be able to identify descriptions of:

Impact
Probability
Proximity
Risks (including causes, events and effects of threats and opportunities)
Defined risk responses
Typical sources of risks and issues

Students will also be able to identify the purpose of:

Programme and issue management
Issue registers
Issue management strategies
Probability impact grids
Summary risk profiles
Progress reporting
Risk management strategies
Risk registers
Risk owners
Risk actionees

The roles of SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices in relation to Risk Management and Issue Resolution will also be covered.

This module looks at how MSP practitioners can ensure that programmes are delivered with optimum quality. This will include a look at auditing, as well as the effectiveness of measurements, assurance reviews, P3M3 maturity assessments and gated reviews.

By the end of the module, students should be able to identify the purpose and scope of:

Programme quality and assurance
Information management plans
Information management strategies
Quality and assurance plans
Quality and assurance strategies
Asset management
Configuration management
Programme quality management
Project quality management

Students will also cover the roles of SRO(s), Programme Managers, BCM(s) and Programme Offices in relation to the MSP Governance Theme of Quality Management.

This module focuses on the six MSP Transformational Flow Processes. Students will learn the name and sequencing of each process, as well as the three distinct sets of activities undertaken during the ‘Realising the Benefits’ Transformational Flow Process:

Manage pre-transition
Manage transition
Manage post-transition

The module will highlight the reasons for:

Identifying and defining a programme
Managing the tranches
Delivering the capability
Realising the benefits

By the end of the module, students will know the purpose and types of content found in the programme mandate, programme brief and the programme definition document. They will also learn the purpose of the programme preparation plan and project brief. Finally, students will know the tests for programme closure and the reasoning behind the Transformational Flow Process of ‘Closing a Programme’.

Here, we offer students the chance to put into practice what they have learned so far. These exams are designed to simulate the official MSP Foundation examination and offer students the questions with rationale to review the key points covered.

MSP Certification FAQs

‘Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)’ is a program and project management framework. It offers flexible yet comprehensive best practices for planning, instigating, managing, and concluding successful programs, breaking them down into more manageable projects with clearly defined goals.

MSP works by breaking down large and complex programs into more manageable projects. It also provides non-prescriptive best practices for program management which can be used and adapted in virtually any industry, sector, or location.

The MSP certification path starts with MSP Foundation, before moving on to MSP Practitioner and, finally, MSP Advanced Practitioner.

AXELOS is a joint venture company that owns and updates several leading best practice frameworks, including MSP, AgileSHIFT, ITIL 4 and PRINCE2.

Due to its adaptable and non-prescriptive nature, almost any organization can use MSP. An MSP qualification can also be highly useful for aspiring or experienced project managers.

MSP is flexible and adaptive enough to suit almost any organization or program. It also clarifies goals, lines of communication, and roles, enabling streamlined decision making and making it easier to complete programs on time and within budget.

Practitioners also continually assess their projects for the sake of risk management and ensuring focus.

The MSP Foundation exam is closed book and has 75 multiple-choice questions. It lasts 60 minutes (75 in countries where English is not the native language). The pass mark is 50%.

The MSP Practitioner exam is open book and has 8 questions. The exam lasts 150 minutes and the pass mark is 50%.

MSP can be used alongside several other frameworks, including ITIL 4 and PRINCE2.

General FAQs

Online classroom training for courses is conducted via live streaming by a certified trainer with over 15 years of work experience. The class is attended by a global audience to enrich your learning experience.

Our teaching assistants are a dedicated team of subject matter experts here to help you get certified in your first attempt. They engage students proactively to ensure the course path is being followed and help you enrich your learning experience, from class onboarding to project mentoring and job assistance. Teaching Assistance is available during business hours.

All of our highly qualified trainers are TOGAF 9 certified with more than 14 years of experience in implementing TOGAF framework.

All of our highly qualified trainers are ITIL-certified, with more than 15 years of experience in training and working in the IT domain. Each of them have gone through a rigorous selection process which includes profile screening, technical evaluation, and a training demo before they are certified to train for us. We also ensure that only those trainers with a high alumni rating continue to train for us.

Yes, the course fee is inclusive of the examination fee.

Exam prices are governed by the certification body and can change. Price changes are typically announced at the end of the calendar year. If the event that an exam price does go up and you have not yet booked the exam, you will need to pay the difference in amount to Edywood.

The tools you’ll need to attend training are:

  • Windows: Windows XP SP3 or higher
  • Mac: OSX 10.6 or higher
  • Internet speed: Preferably 512 Kbps or higher
  • Headset, speakers and microphone: You’ll need headphones or speakers to hear instruction clearly, as well as a microphone to talk to others. You can use a headset with a built-in microphone, or separate speakers and microphone.

We offer 24/7 support through email, chat, and calls. We also have a dedicated team that provides on-demand assistance through our community forum. What’s more, you will have lifetime access to the community forum, even after completion of your course with us.

Online Classroom:

  • Attend one complete batch.
  • Complete one simulation test with a minimum score of 60%.

Online Self learning:

  • Complete 85% of the course.
  • Complete one simulation test with a minimum score of 60%.

For assistance in scheduling your exam, reach us through our email or contact sales consultant via call. Our EdyWood team will help you

Your exam voucher fee is included in the price of this course. However, you must procure the exam voucher within six months from the date of course purchase. In the event that an exam price does go up and you have not yet booked the exam, you will need to pay the difference in amount to EdyWood.

Exam vouchers are valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. If you do not book the exam within 1 year from purchase of voucher, you will need to buy the voucher again per the actual price.

No, exam voucher cost cannot be refunded once it is issued to a learner as we procure this from third party bodies. EdyWood does not own the voucher policies and cost.

After successful completion of the training, you will be awarded the course completion certificate. Once you clear the exam you will then receive the certification from The Open Group.

Contact us using the form on the right of any page on the EdyWood website, or Call us. Our customer service representatives can provide you with more details.