Project Planning & Control Foundation and Practitioner - APMG

The DIXONTECH Project Planning & Control (PPC) Foundation and Practitioner – APMG course provides a complete understanding of project planning, scheduling, monitoring, and control based on the APMG® and Association for Project Management (APM) guidelines. This dual-level programme develops participants’ ability to design robust project schedules, manage performance, and ensure successful delivery through integrated planning and control practices.

TRAINING TOPICS

• Project Planning and Control Frameworks (APMG®/APM)
• Schedule Development and Critical Path Analysis
• Progress Monitoring, Reporting, and Forecasting
• Change, Risk, and Issue Management
• Practical Application for Foundation & Practitioner Levels

BY THE END OF THIS TRAINING COURSE, DELEGATES WILL BE ABLE TO:

Demonstrate mastery in structured project planning and control aligned with APMG® professional standards.

• Understand APMG® and APM planning principles
• Build and manage project schedules effectively
• Monitor performance using variance and trend analysis
• Apply risk and change control in planning processes
• Interpret project data for decision-making and reporting
• Pass both PPC Foundation and Practitioner certification levels
• Integrate planning, control, and governance frameworks

TRAINING IS TAILORED TO

Professionals aiming to strengthen their project planning and scheduling skills, and those pursuing APMG® certification.

• Project Managers and Planners
• Project Control and PMO Professionals
• Scheduling and Cost Engineers
• Planning and Reporting Analysts
• Risk and Performance Managers
• Project Support and Coordinators
• Individuals seeking APMG® or APM recognition

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

This DIXONTECH programme combines structured lectures, case-based learning, and certification exam simulations. Participants engage in hands-on exercises in schedule development, critical path analysis, and earned value control using professional planning software (MS Project/Primavera).

DAY 1

INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT PLANNING AND CONTROL PRINCIPLES

• Overview of APMG® and APM planning frameworks
• Understanding project lifecycle and governance structures
• Roles and responsibilities in planning and control
• Core terminology: baseline, variance, dependencies, milestones
• Setting up a project control environment
• Foundation-level review and exam preparation guidance

DAY 2

PROJECT PLANNING, SCHEDULING, AND BASELINING

• Developing a comprehensive project plan and schedule
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and coding hierarchy
• Network diagrams, dependencies, and logic relationships
• Critical Path Method (CPM) and float calculations
• Time scheduling and resource loading techniques
• Workshop: build and baseline a project plan

DAY 3

MONITORING, REPORTING, AND FORECASTING PERFORMANCE

• Data collection, progress tracking, and updating techniques
• Measuring actual vs planned progress
• Performance indicators and forecast accuracy
• Variance and trend analysis using EVM techniques
• Status reporting and executive dashboards
• Practical session: schedule update and performance reporting

DAY 4

CHANGE, RISK, AND ISSUE MANAGEMENT IN CONTROL FRAMEWORKS

• Identifying and managing project risks and issues
• Change control procedures and baseline management
• Integrating risk management into planning cycles
• Impact analysis for schedule and cost variations
• Maintaining integrity of project data and configuration
• Practitioner-level mock test and analysis

DAY 5

INTEGRATED CONTROL, GOVERNANCE, AND PRACTITIONER EXAM PREPARATION

• Aligning planning and control with governance processes
• Integrated assurance and performance review mechanisms
• Advanced techniques for predictive project control
• Practitioner scenario-based exercises and feedback
• Key exam techniques and time management strategies
• Final simulation: integrated project planning and control case study
• Practitioner certification readiness assessment