Business analysts, customer journey managers, project leaders, business change managers and anyone who needs a thorough grounding in project management principles. Foundation in IS Project Management is also a Knowledge-Based module on the BCS (ISEB) International Diploma in Business Analysis.

The Foundation in IS Project Management course is an ideal introduction to the core IS and IT project management principles. 
Over three days of investigation and learning, using a realistic case study, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of common IS project management issues. Learn about the nature of projects and project work, monitoring and control, quality issues, project organisation and communication and more.
Presented by one of our expert training consultants, who bring substantial practical knowledge of project planning and management to this programme.

AssistKD's Foundation in IS Project Management online learning course focuses on project management issues in the context of IS/IT applications. Key course areas include:

• the nature of projects and project work
• effective project planning
• monitoring and control
• change control
• configuration management
• quality issues
• project estimation and risk
• project organisation and communication

The course acts as an important first stepping stone in acquiring a more formal knowledge of IS/IT project management principles and is ideal for those about to take up a management role for the first time.

Upon completion of the course, candidates will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

1. The context for delivering Information Systems projects
2. Making a business case and managing stakeholders
3. Initiating projects and planning deliverables
4. Estimating effort, understanding dependencies and scheduling the work
5. Establishing, motivating, and managing project teams
6. How to manage quality, risk, and change in projects
7. Monitoring, controlling and reporting on progress
    

BCS Foundation Certificate in  IS Project Management

Course Content

Project environment

• Characteristics of a project; the ‘triple constraint’ of time/cost/quality
• Project and operational responsibilities
• Special features of computer projects
• Role of the Project Manager
• Project success and failure
• Development lifecycles

Project initiation

• Stakeholder analysis and management
• Defining the objectives and scope of the project
• The role of the Client and their responsibilities
• Project constraints and resources
• Project Initiation Document

Project planning

• The importance of breaking work down
• Product breakdown structures
• Project and User deliverables
• Standard deliverable sets and templates
• Product flows and work packages
• The concept of dependencies

Estimating deliverables

• Key concepts in estimating
• Estimating difficulties
• Estimating by analogy
• Parametric estimating
• Effort and elapsed time estimates
• Schedule compression

Planning networks and charts

• Precedence diagrams and project networks
• The critical path and its implications
• Gantt charts and resource histograms
• Planning at an appropriate level
• The use and abuse of planning software

Working in teams

• The elements of a good team
• Team composition
• Team roles

Motivation and management style

• The roots of motivation at work
• Approaches to motivation (Maslow, Herzberg)
• The effect of management style

Project risk management

• Purpose of risk management
• Risk management process
• Identifying and assessing risks
• Introduction to quantitative risk assessment

Project quality plans

• Principles of quality management
• The contents of a quality plan
• Quality Management
• Configuration management

The project plan

• Elements of a project plan (schedule, quality, risk)
• Contents and structure of a project plan

Project monitoring, reporting and control

• The importance of monitoring and control
• Allocating personal deliverables
• Progress measurement
• Time recording
• Introduction to earned value analysis
• Dealing with non-delivery
• Slippage and re-planning – corrective actions
• Change control, scope creep and over-engineering
• Reporting structures

Project completion

• Project sign-off and the need for a controlled close
• Post-project reviews

The project manager

• The project manager’s role revisited
• Qualities and characteristics of effective project managers

©Assist Knowledge Development Ltd.

Here's a quick guide to the topics covered on each day of the course.

For virtual courses a printed copy of the latest edition of the comprehensive course manual will be sent to your home address in good time for the start of your course. Our delegates tell us that having access to a physical document is beneficial as both a reference document and for taking notes during the course. In addition, a link will be emailed to you to enable you to access an electronic copy of the same comprehensive manual for convenient future reference.

Yes. During this course you’ll receive all the training you need to prepare for the BCS Foundation in IS Project Management certificate multiple choice examination. A pass means a Foundation certificate in IS Project Management which is part of the BCS Professional Certification portfolio, but it contributes to your BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis too.

For delegates attending a classroom, virtual classroom or eLearning course, the exam may be taken remotely using the BCS online proctoring service. This exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 26/40.

Prior to the course start date, delegates can request 14 days complimentary online access to this module to allow them to familiarise themselves with the syllabus. You’ll also be given a comprehensive IS Project Management course manual, containing additional information and guidance on further reading. In addition, you will receive a copy of the BCS textbook ‘Project Management for IT-Related Projects’, which supports the syllabus of the course.

If this course is part of your BCS Diploma in Business Analysis programme you have a choice of further modules which include the core BA Diploma modules, Business Analysis Practice and Requirements Engineering. Candidates who have already completed the Foundation in IS Project Management also need to pass one of the Specialist Practitioner modules, from Benefits Management and Business Acceptance, Systems Modelling Techniques, Modelling Business Processes, Systems Development Essentials and Data Management Essentials. The structure of the certification is shown here.

This course was written by our team of training consultants, who bring their substantial experience of business analysis projects to the programme.

The questions within the course were also written be experienced BCS examiners. This helps users to thoroughly prepare for the examination.

How do AssistKD’s virtual classroom courses work?

AssistKD’s virtual courses are conducted live and online in a ‘virtual’ classroom space via Microsoft Teams. 
On each day of the course, we ask delegates to log on in time for a 9am start. The courses end at 4.30pm. An hour is ring-fenced for lunch, but timings can vary.

Designed to be interactive, responsive and engaging, our virtual (live) courses are led by trainers who are experts in their fields, with real-life industry experience. 
The benefit of the virtual classroom is that delegates enjoy all the benefits of ‘in-real-time' training, but with no travel requirements or overnight stays. 

Regular comfort breaks, team exercises and break-out sessions keep delegates focused and reinforce learning. 
The courses allow learners to develop their professional toolkits.

Can you attend virtual classroom courses from outside the UK?

Yes, however you will be issued with a digital course manual in advance of the course, not a printed manual. 

When will I receive my joining instructions?

You will receive joining instructions two weeks before the start of your course. One week before the course you will receive detailed instructions on how to log on.

I am concerned about logging on, is there support available?

If you have concerns about logging on and your technology, it is best to address these prior to the day of the course. We can offer you a test call at a time that suits you. To request this please contact support@assistkd.com

I have additional needs, can they be accommodated?

Please provide us with full details of any additional needs in advance of the course so that we can work with you to accommodate them. Please contact enquiries@assistkd.com

When will I receive my course manual?

You will receive your course manual, in both printed and digital form, two weeks before the start of your course.

Can you accommodate a last-minute booking?

Yes, provided there is availability.

Do you offer discounted prices if I am taking more than one course?

Yes, please contact enquires@assistkd.com

What happens if I need to reschedule, do I have to pay twice?

If you need to reschedule, to avoid a cancellation fee please give 10 working days’ notice by contacting enquiries@assistkd.com.

Do the courses run on consecutive days?

Yes. Courses which last for more than one day are delivered on consecutive days from the start date indicated. These are on working days, during Monday to Friday.

Do you offer courses over the weekend?

Our virtual (live) classroom and face-to-face classroom courses run from Monday to Friday only.

Is the exam taken during the actual course?

No. The exam can be taken on a date and time of your choice. You will be provided with exam registration details before the start of your course. We recommend that you take the exam within two weeks of the end of your course, while the knowledge is fresh.

When will I receive my exam results and certificate?

Exams will be taken online you will find out your result immediately on completion. Then, approximately two weeks after the exam this will be confirmed via the BCS portal and you can print out your certificate. 

Is the exam included with the eLearning subscriptions?

All BCS and A4Q eLearning exams can be taken online via remote proctoring, giving you complete flexibility to sit your exam from any suitable location. If you choose the Core or Extra option, your exam voucher is already included, making it simple to progress toward certification.

Can I buy now and start later?

Absolutely. Your course is added to your account right after purchase, but you choose when to activate your subscription - ideal for planning around work or personal commitments. When you are ready to begin learning, you simply log in to your account and click 'Activate' next to the course name.

Have more questions? Check out our full FAQs here or contact us directly.