Study Guides

APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ)

A proven and up-to-date Study Guide for the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ); it is based on the APM Body of Knowledge 6th edition (BoK6). In regular use by the Management Skills Centre (an APM Accredited Training Provider) to accompany both training sessions and distance learning.

It has four main objectives:

To update previously used material in the light of the APM Body of Knowledge v6 (BoK 6) and the new syllabus for the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ).
To ensure that the Study Guide complements the face-to-face sessions in a training course.
To match the accompanying video podcasts and online examination to support distance learning.
To encourage readers to use this as a stepping stone towards further APM Qualifications such as the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ).

The Guide contains twenty five chapters and covers all topics in the syllabus; it describes the principles underlying the management of projects and a basic understanding of their application. The change of emphasis expounded in BoK6 is reflected; the re-definition of Project Management as Project, Programme and Portfolio Management (or P3 Management). This encourages an increased focus in the Study Guide on the project benefits - the reasons why we carry out a project. Risks are considered as both threats and opportunities - each risk resulting in an uncertainty in the project costs, benefits and duration.

Many examples are included to demonstrate the relevance and application of the concepts. Sixty APM sample questions are included to help prepare for the one-hour multiple-choice examination, which may be taken on-line. The Contents are:

	Page No.	Topic
	x	Preface

Chapter 1	1	Introduction to the course
Module 1		P3 Management
Chapter 2	3	Projects and project management 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Projects 2.3 Project Management
Chapter 3	9	Programme and portfolio management 3.1 Programme Management 3.2 Portfolio Management
Chapter 4	13	Project life cycles 4.1 Project Life Cycles 4.2 Handover and closure
Module 2		Basic Business Case
Chapter 5	17	What the project is 5.1 Project success criteria 5.2 Key performance indicators 5.3 Success factors
Chapter 6	21	Why the project should go ahead 6.1 Benefits 6.2 Benefits management
Chapter 7	23	Estimating costs for cost/benefit analysis 7.1 Estimating methods 7.2 HS2 example
Chapter 8	27	Environment and stakeholders 8.1 Project context 8.2 PESTLE analysis 8.3 Stakeholder management
Chapter 9	33	Uncertainties in benefits and costs - risks 9.1 Risks 9.2 Project risk management 9.3 The risk management process 9.4 The risk management plan 9.5 The risk register
Module 3		Planning and Control
Chapter 10	41	Full business case and project management plan 10.1 Business case 10.2 Project management plan (PMP) 10.3 Use of PMP during project life cycle
Chapter 11	49	Quality management 11.1 Quality 11.2 Quality management 11.3 Quality processes 11.4 Cost and benefits of quality
Chapter 12	55	Reviews 12.1 Project reviews
Chapter 13	59	Scope management 13.1 Scope management 13.2 Breakdown structures
Chapter 14	67	Estimating 14.1 Estimating and errors in estimation 14.2 Estimates across the life-cycle
Chapter 15	71	Time scheduling 15.1 Time scheduling
Chapter 16	81	Resource management 16.1 Resource management 16.2 Resource scheduling 16.3 Procurement
Chapter 17	85	Issues, change control 17.1 Issue management 17.2 Change control
Chapter 18	93	Configuration management 18.1 Configuration management 18.2 The configuration management process
Chapter 19	97	Information management, reporting 19.1 Information management 19.2 Reporting
Module 4		People - Interactions, Organisation and Skills
Chapter 20	101	Communication 20.1 Communication 20.2 The communication process 20.3 The communications plan 20.4 Barriers to communication 20.5 Mehrabian and the 7%-38%-55% myth
Chapter 21	109	Roles and responsibilities 21.1 Organisational roles 21.2 Sponsorship
Chapter 22	113	What makes a good Project Manager? 22.1 Introduction 22.2 The competence framework
Chapter 23	115	Motivation 23.1 Motivation
Chapter 24	121	Leadership 24.1 Leadership 24.2 Situational leadership 24.3 Leadership characteristics
Chapter 25	127	Teamwork 25.1 Teamwork 25.2 Margerison-McCann 25.3 Belbin team roles


Appendices
Appendix 1	133	Syllabus learning outcomes and assessment criteria
Appendix 2	137	Assessment criteria matched to chapters
Appendix 3	139	APM Sample Paper

	Page No.	Topic
	xi	Preface
	xiv	Acknowledgements
	xvi	Introduction

Module 1		Project Context and Concept
Chapter 1	1	Project, Programme and Portfolio (P3) Management
Chapter 2	11	Project Life Cycles, Infrastructure - Project Offices, Methods
Chapter 3	21	Project Environment and Risk Management
Chapter 4	45	Stakeholder Management , Success and Benefits Management, Business Case
Module 2		Project Delivery I
Chapter 5	55	Project Management Plan, Estimating
Chapter 6	65	Scope Management I: Scope Definition and Management, Requirements Management
Chapter 7	77	Scope Management II: Configuration Management, Change Control
Chapter 8	89	Schedule Management: Time Scheduling, Resource Scheduling
Module 3		Project Delivery II
Chapter 9	113	Accounting and Procurement
Chapter 10	127	Earned Value Management
Chapter 11	137	Quality and Legal Matters
Chapter 12	155	Reviews, Information Management, Communications

Module 4		People - Organisation and Skills
Chapter 13	173	Organisational Structure, Roles and Project Governance
Chapter 14	189	Leadership
Chapter 15	205	Teamwork
Chapter 16	217	Negotiation and Conflict Management

Appendices		Bringing it all together
Appendix 1	231	Examination preparation
Appendix 2	235	Revision Paper and additional questions
Appendix 3	243	Assessment criteria in the PMQ syllabus
Appendix 4	245	Notes for answers to questions in Appendix 2
Appendix 5	275	APM Code of Professional Conduct
Appendix 6	279	References

Study Guides

APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ)

APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)