Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Course Content

The whole level three diploma has TEN specific units of study, which are sub-divided into topic areas these are:

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 1: Introduction to Project Management

The first unit introduces planning, organisation and control, and each element will be examined within the project life cycle activities. The structured approach to implement Project Management and the concepts of the APM Body of Knowledge, the latter of which has been produced to establish quality standards within the profession is considered. It is used because is a tried and tested way of using a process known to work, can be costed and monitored.

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 2: Project Management Methods

The unit will discuss the type and nature of a project, they all have similar processes and methods. This section will explore the different structured approaches to implementing project management. The emphasis is on proving the importance of using a structured approach, and why an unstructured process is less efficient is discussed since not everybody advocates the use of adopting a structured approach.

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 3: Project Planning

The unit explores the technique for the start to completion of the Project Planning requirements within Project Management is explored. There are numerous packages and software planning tools depending on the nature of the project, in particular Microsoft Project 2003, so how each is used is explored. The following areas will be covered to see how the project can be broken into sections and summarised using visual charts, e.g. Project Scheduling, The Gantt, Pert or RAP Chart, Product Flow Diagrams and Breakdown Structures and Quality Products. Setting goals, targets and milestones and how to manage risk is covered in detail as this is key to managing change.

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 4: Project Organization

This unit helps you to explore and discover different skills and the use of leaders to e.g. direct, collaborate, coerce or consult are useful in making people motivated to do what is instructed and decided. Project Organisation also considers how resources are utilized on the project. This will be explored in association with the structured approach, e.g. on how to establishing a Project Board and their role which can be depicted visually to ensure everyone is informed of their roles.

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 5: Project Control

In this unit you will be exploring the five crucial elements to managing a project which need to be controlled to the conclusion of the projects and these are: time; cost; quality; scope and risk. This can be done by controlling each variable with a detailed plan and a checklist. The initial organisation must include an examination of Project Briefs and Initiation Documents, any deliverables, how to assess progress [including risk] from start, midway and to the end, set checkpoint for quality which can be shared at Project Board meetings.

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 6: Tools and Techniques

Within this unit you will gain knowledge in the difficult stages to know how much staff time will be needed, and when at times we might be paying over £3000 for an expert per day, the importance of this becomes clear. Credibility and respect are important, and if a project is mismanaged these are quickly lost. Ways to allow for the unexpected using Critical Path Analysis are discussed, e.g. common checkpoints such as contingency plans for loss of staff through unexpected meetings, other demands on their time and illness.

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 7: Project Management Reports

The type of reports that need to be produced in the management of a successful project involving constructive communication are discussed, e.g. weekly or monthly highlight reports, financial control, change, risk management and quality reports. These reports keep management aware of progress and abreast of any problems and it starts to raise awareness of key findings that will be embedded into the final report which includes any lessons learned.

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 8: Project Estimating Techniques

This unit outlines and explains how to propose anticipated benefits, design a methodology and describe potential costs and resources needed. Generally skills are gained by using past case studies and outcomes of successful projects. Computer software exists to help with this, but certain amount of skills and experience can help define a rough estimate of what will be required. Often this involves a complex mathematical model and some useful software applications are examined.

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 9: Managing Project Change

Here you will review the Key elements to change management is identify what needs to be changed and use an integrated approach, e.g. IT can be updated or a more efficient software identified, change of organisational structure or roles and responsibilities of staff or to meet new legislative rules and recommendations such as Equality training. How change management works, what strategy they use and the techniques involved in helping change within an organisation are discussed since often there might be resistance and unhappiness even stress and illness at what is seen as introduction of the new and unfamiliar

Accredited Level 3 Project Management Diploma Unit 10: Global Project Management

It has become clear that much can be learned from looking at successful global markets such as in south East Asia particularly IT in China, India, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea and also in outsourcing to countries where certain areas of business are cheaper and better quality. A review of how the profession is responding to change and the demands placed upon it by the global business transformation taking place is discussed. You will review:

• Factors and issues for demand in global economy
• Management skills
• Project management profession
• Challenges within this role
• Cultural awareness
• Cross-global team working