MSP® Foundation

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MSP® Foundation Online Tutorials

The MSP Foundation Exam is an established structure that organizes complex programs into manageable, interrelated projects is MSP® (Managing Efficient Programs). In a volatile, ever-changing program environment, MSP training teaches you stronger program management skills, enhanced adaptability, and versatility while running. 

MSP has been used globally in many fields, building a group of professionals who can have all the back up successfully. Professionals and graduates who wish to Efficiently Program (MSP) as the name implies, a programme management technique will grow more in their respective fields and this certification will also increase employment opportunities.

Target Audience

Professionals and candidates who aspire to work in the position of Senior and graduates who want to make their CV’s stronger to gain more employment opportunities with great earning potential, this MSP Foundation Level certification will do wonders for such individuals. The MSP® Foundation targets the following individuals –

  • Programme managers and aspiring programme managers
  • Project managers/senior project managers
  • Business change managers
  • Other key staff involved in the design, development and delivery of projects, including project board
  • members (e.g. executive), project assurance, and project support
  • Operational line managers/staff (e.g. process owners) operating within a programme environment
  • Other key staff involved in the design, development and delivery of programmes, including: programme
  • board members (e.g. senior responsible owner), programme assurance, and programme management
  • office personnel
  • Portfolio management staff
  • Specialist programme staff
Exam Details

MSP Foundation Exam Questions are in multiple choice format. It covers 60 questions that are to be completed in 60 minutes. Moreover, the MSP Foundation Exam Cost is £245. Also, you MSP Foundation Passing Score is 60%.

Exam Name MSP® FoundationExam Format Multiple Choice Questions
Exam Duration 60 minsNumber of Questions 60 Questions
Eligibility/Pre-Requisite NILExam Fee £245.00
Exam Language English, German, Polish, DutchPass Score 60% (36 out of 60)

MSP® Foundation FAQ

For More Details on MSP Foundation Online Exam See – MSP® Foundation FAQ

MSP® Foundation FAQ

Course Details

The MSP Foundation Course Outline covers the following domains:

Understand key concepts relating to programmes and MSP

1.1 Recall the definition of:

a) A programme (1.2, glossary)
b) The 3 lenses of MSP: principles, themes, and the processes across the programme lifecycle (2, 3, 11, glossary)
c) Enterprise agility (1.2.3, glossary)

1.2 Describe:

a) The characteristics of a programme (1.2.1-4)
b) The common reasons why programme management is used (1.3)
c) The common challenges that MSP is designed to address (1.4)
d) The programme environment (1.5, fig 1.2)

Understand how the MSP principles underpin the MSP framework

2.1 Explain the MSP principles:

a) Lead with purpose (2.1)
b) Collaborate across boundaries (2.2)
c) Deal with ambiguity (2.3)
d) Align with priorities (2.4)
e) Deploy diverse skills (2.5)
f) Realize measurable benefits (2.6)
g) Bring pace and value (2.7)

Understand the MSP themes and how they are applied throughout the programme

3.1 Explain:

a) The purpose of the programme strategy (3.4)
b) The purpose of programme governance (3.1)
c) The purpose of programme plans (3.5)
d) The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and its applicability to risks and issues (3.3, fig 3.2)

3.2 Organization theme (chapter 4)

3.2.1 Explain the purpose of the ‘organization’ theme (4.1) BL2

3.2.2 Describe the key relationships between the ‘organization’ theme and the principles (tab 4.1)

3.2.3 Explain the purpose of the key documents required to support the ‘organization’ theme:

a) Programme strategy: governance approach (including organization structure) (4.3, 4.5, 4.6, tab 4.3)
b) Programme strategy: stakeholder engagement approach (4.11, tab 4.3)
c) Stakeholder engagement and communications plan (4.12, tab 4.3)

3.2.4 Define key concepts related to the ‘organization’ theme:

a) Stakeholder (4.10, glossary)
b) Stakeholder engagement (4.10, glossary)
c) Programme risk appetite (4.4, glossary)

3.2.5 Describe the purpose and responsibilities of the following roles:

a) Sponsoring group (sponsoring group member) (4.5.1, tab 4.4)
b) Programme board (4.5.2)
c) Programme office (programme office lead) (4.5.3, tab 4.4)
d) Senior responsible owner (SRO) (4.6.1, tab 4.4)
e) Programme manager (4.6.2, tab 4.4)
f) Business change manager (BCM) (4.6.3, tab 4.4)

3.3 Design theme (chapter 5)

3.3.1 Explain the purpose of the ‘design’ theme (5.1) BL2

3.3.2 Describe the key relationships between the ‘design’ theme and the principles (tab 5.1)

3.3.3 Explain the purpose of the key documents required to support the ‘design’ theme:

a) Programme strategy: design approach (5.3, tab 5.4)
b) Vision statement (5.4, tab 5.4)
c) Benefits map (5.5.2, tab 5.4)
d) Benefit profile (5.5.4, tab 5.4)
e) Risk register (5.6, tab 5.4)
f) Target operating model (5.7, 5.7.1, fig 5.8, tab 5.4)

3.3.4 Define key concepts related to the ‘design’ theme:

a) Benefit (5.5, glossary)
b) Dis-benefit (5.5, glossary)
c) Vision (5.4, glossary)
d) Programme risk (5.6, glossary)

3.3.5 Describe:

a) The types of benefits (5.5.1)
b) The path to benefits (5.5.2, fig 5.2)
c) The types of programme risk (5.6.1)
d) Risk prioritization (5.6.2)
e) The need to document current state, future state and gap analysis (5.7.2)

3.4 Justification theme (chapter 6)

3.4.1 Explain the purpose of the ‘justification’ theme (6.1) BL2

3.4.2 Describe the key relationships between the ‘justification’ theme and the principles (tab 6.1)

3.4.3 Explain the purpose of the key documents required to support the ‘justification’ theme:

a) Programme mandate (6.3, tab 6.3)
b) Programme strategy: funding approach (6.4, tab 6.3)
c) Programme brief (6.5, tab 6.3)
d) Business case (6.6, tab 6.3)
e) Financial plan (6.7, tab 6.3)

3.4.4 Define key concepts related to the ‘justification’ theme:

a) Budgets (6.7.1, glossary)
b) Cash flow (6.7.2, glossary)
c) Financial contingency (6.6.3, glossary)

3.4.5 Describe:

a) The justification for a programme including financial and nonfinancial appraisal methods (6.6.1, 6.6.1.1, 6.6.1.2)
b) The key considerations when validating a business case (6.6.4)

3.5 Structure theme (chapter 7)

3.5.1 Explain the purpose of the ‘structure’ theme (7.1)

3.5.2 Describe the key relationships between the ‘structure’ theme and the principles (tab 7.1)

3.5.3 Explain the purpose and characteristics of the key document required to support the ‘structure’ theme:

a) Programme strategy: delivery approach (7.3, tab 7.3)
b) Delivery plan; including the factors to be considered when planning programme delivery (7.5, tab 7.3)
c) Benefits realization plan (7.8, tab 7.3)
d) Programme strategy: resourcing approach (7.9, tab 7.3)

3.5.4 Define key concepts related to the ‘structure’ theme:

a) Pace (7.4, glossary)
b) Organizational capacity (7.4.1, glossary)
c) Organizational ability (7.4.1, glossary)
d) Multimodal delivery (7.6, glossary)
e) Tranche (7.5, glossary)
f) Landing point (7.5, glossary)
g) Incremental progression (7.5, glossary)
h) Dependency (7.7, glossary)
i) Iterative project lifecycle (7.6, glossary)
j) Linear project lifecycle (7.6, glossary)
k) Hybrid project lifecycle (7.6, glossary)
l) Continual improvement (7.6, glossary)

3.5.5 Describe:

a) The need to identify and manage dependencies, including the types of dependencies (7.7)
b) The use of the appropriate modes of delivery (7.6)

3.6 Knowledge theme (chapter 8)

3.6.1 Explain the purpose of the ‘knowledge’ theme (8.1) BL2

3.6.2 Describe the key relationships between the ‘knowledge’ theme and the principles (tab 8.1)

3.6.3 Explain the purpose of the key documents required to support the ‘knowledge’ theme:

a) Programme strategy: knowledge & learning approach (8.3, tab 8.2)
b) Programme strategy: information approach (8.6, tab 8.2)

3.6.4 Define key concepts related to the ‘knowledge’ theme:

a) Knowledge (8.1, glossary)
b) Community of practice (8.4, glossary)
c) Lessons learned (8.5, glossary)
d) Retrospective (8.5, glossary)

3.6.5 Describe:

a) The use of knowledge management and lessons learned in effective programme management (8.4, 8.5)
b) The use of information management, including three pillars of information security, in effective programme management (8.7)

3.7 Assurance theme (chapter 9)

3.7.1 Explain the purpose of the ‘assurance’ theme (9.1)

3.7.2 Describe the key relationships between the ‘assurance’ theme and the principles (tab 9.1)

3.7.3 Explain the purpose of the key documents required to support the ‘assurance’ theme:

a) Programme strategy: assurance approach (9.3, tab 9.4)
b) Assurance plan (9.5, tab 9.4)

3.7.4 Define key concepts related to the ‘assurance’ theme:

a) Assurance (9.1, glossary)
b) Three lines of defence (9.4, glossary)

3.7.5 Describe:

a) The nature of assurance activities, including the drivers for assurance (9.5.1, tab 9.2)
b) How to plan successful assurance activities, including the success factors for assurance (9.5.3, tab 9.3)
c) The need for assurance at multiple levels, including the three lines of defence (9.4, 9.4.1, 9.4.2, 9.4.3)

3.8 Decisions theme (chapter 10)

3.8.1 Explain the purpose of the ‘decisions’ theme (10.1)

3.8.2 Describe the key relationships between the ‘decisions’ theme and the principles (tab 10.1)

3.8.3 Explain the purpose of the key documents required to support the ‘decisions’ theme:

a) Programme strategy: decision-making approach (10.3, tab 10.3)
b) Programme strategy: issue resolution approach (10.4, tab 10.3)
c) Programme strategy: risk response approach (10.5, tab 10.3)
d) Decision register (10.3, tab 10.3)
e) Issue register (10.4, tab 10.3)

3.8.4 Define key concepts related to the ‘decisions’ theme:

a) Decision point (10.3, glossary)
b) Risk owner (10.5, glossary)
c) Issue (10.4, glossary)
d) Issue owner (10.4, glossary)

3.8.5 Describe:

a) The importance of data gathering and reporting (10.6, 10.6.1, 10.6.2)
b) The role of options analysis to support decisions (10.7)
c) The generic responses to threats and opportunities (10.5.1, tab 10.2)

Understand the MSP processes and how they are carried out throughout the programme

4.1 Explain the purposes of the processes within the MSP lifecycle:

a) Identify the programme (12.1)
b) Design the outcomes (13.1)
c) Plan progressive delivery (14.1)
d) Deliver the capabilities (15.1)
e) Embed the outcomes (16.1)
f) Evaluate new information (17.1)
g) Close the programme (18.1)

4.2 Explain the objectives of the MSP processes (a-g above) (12.2, 13.2, 14.2, 15.2, 16.2, 17.2, 18.2)

4.3 Explain the context of the MSP processes (a-g above) (12.3, 13.3, 14.3, 15.3, 16.3, 17.3, 18.3 (excluding tab 12.1, tab 13.1, tab 14.1, tab 15.1, tab 16.1, tab 17.1, tab 18.1))

Now that we have all the information regarding the exam, it may make you wonder Is MSP Foundation Hard ? Well, indeed it is. But we have the perfect solution in the next section.

Preparation Guide for the MSP® Foundation Exam

MSP Foundation Exam Preparation overwhelming! There are just so many checklists and essentials to be followed, pinned up and to be executed. It takes a lot of energy, time and efforts. Especially when it comes to finding the right sort of resources and libraries. Online forums could be cheesy and disturbing when they don’t turn out to give productive content while some can be good but charge fees. In all of the mess from organizing to executing and drawing out statistics, in the end, candidates exhaust themselves by also doing some of the wrong and unnecessary things too. So below are the preparation resources in our MSP Foundation Study Guide that’ll turn out to be helpful in your exam prep.

MSP® Foundation Preparation Guide

Refer Official Study Guide

The official website provides its aspirants an Official Study Guide to help them follow all the basic procedures and processes and give the information they need. It’s crucial to at least read the document once and highlight the important things, so that when you need the information; you will have it and would have to scroll all the time. Also, it provides examinees with MSP Foundation Syllabus to give a gist of the exam which is again beneficial and helpful. Go through it once and remember the pattern of it, candidates can also make their own speed test question papers by observing them.

Learn with Books

The most important MSP Foundation Learning resources is books. Books will help you sharpen your memory and allow you to concentrate on the entire learning session. Unless you go through a book, you may not understand the main subject. It also increases the strength of your imagination and gives you a new perspective on the subject. In this area, referring to the best books for the examination will enhance your knowledge. As follows, the top 3 books for this credential are

  • Managing a successful program. This book will manually reflect the changes and developments in practice along with practical advice. It highlights the guidance’s themes. It is one of the highly recommended books for this certification exam.
  • Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Study Guide. This book will provide core guidance, reading it in isolation will not provide sufficient knowledge to pass the examinations.it has knowledge about the MSP qualifications so that the candidate will be familiar with the scope of the papers.
  • Managing Successful Programmes: 2011. One of the best books which have reality for all organizations, successful program management has never been more vital to success.

Online Axelos Community

A good way to gain knowledge and know where you stand in any competition is to join online forums and study groups. Here, you will be able to make equations with other competitors and keep yourself motivated. Not only, will this be beneficial in the MSP® Foundation exam prep, because of the exposure it provides, but you will also be able to get all your questions and doubts cleared here.

Evaluate with Practice Tests

Lastly, through MSP Foundation Practice Test, the last move is to self-assess yourself. Training exercises can evaluate the regions where you are already rusty and need more practice, and you will focus on your training accordingly. It creates confidence and makes us aware of the environment of the test, which is an advantage. Practice assessments are often the best way to determine your readiness at any stage of examination, so don’t miss out on that.

MSP® Foundation Preparation Guide
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