Frequently Asked Questions

Dealing with individuals and teams. Creating better outcomes for all by learning what reactions might be expected, when they can be avoided and, when necessary, how to deal with them.

The needs of people in the temporary environment of a project are different to the needs of people working in the normal business environment. Some of the factors affecting them are:-

• The temporary nature of the work
• The pressure of deadlines
• New reporting arrangements
• High stress environments

Few people have all the necessary skills to solve complex 21st Century problems on their own. So projects need teams. Some teams are effective and some are not.

People Skills, Soft Skills is about recognising these needs and dealing with them. It includes understanding the dynamics of people and teams and using people skills effectively.

Change Management is

• Process, tools and techniques to manage the people side of changing systems, structures and behaviours.
• Achieving the required outcomes.
• Realising the change effectively within individuals, teams and organisations.
• A growing body of knowledge about the problems inherent in managing change and how to avoid or manage the issues.

• New behaviours
• New skills
• Different jobs, with different staff
• New lines of management
• Less staff

The APMG is the UK based organisation that administers the standards and qualifications for PRINCE2® (a standard for project delivery) and ITIL® (a standard for service delivery). These are two internationally recognised standards.

In 2006, APMG developed the Principles of Change Management qualification (now known as the Foundation qualification) around Making Sense of Change Management by Cameron and Green. The syllabus is now based on the 2nd Edition of this book, which was published in 2009.

The assessment is a closed book one hour multiple choice exam.

A further more advanced Practitioner level qualification was launched in November, 2009.

Just as with ITIL® and PRINCE2®, organisations, course material and trainers are assessed and accredited by the APMG.

The Change Management accreditation is administered by the UK APMG who are the same people who administer PRINCE2®.

Successful change management and successful projects usually go hand in hand. One cannot happen without the other.

No.

To be a successful change manager or project manager, you need a good grasp on both disciplines. But it does not matter which you study first.

PRINCE2® (PRojects IN Controlled Environments 2nd Version) is a method for running projects. It is adaptable to any size or type of project. It is widely used in over 50 countries and is accepted by many types and sizes of organisation.

More on PRINCE2®

Basically the UK government.

Technically it’s the OGC (Office of Government Commerce) who own the methodology. The UK Association of Project Managers Group (APMG) administer it and they are represented in Australia by PRINCE Australia.

The only book that is essential to passing the Practitioner exam is the PRINCE2® Manual (Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 ).

This can be ordered from us.

Contact us on 03 9038 9236 or at enquiries@project-laneways.com.au

There are two levels of PRINCE2® qualification generally available in Australia. They are:

• Foundation (based on a 1 hour multiple choice exam) - 50% pass mark.
• Practitioner (based on a 2.5 hour multiple choice exam) - 55% pass mark

Project Laneways offers both qualifications.

No.

PRINCE2® is suitable for all types of projects and is actively used for many types of projects e.g.

• policy development
• research projects
• marketing projects
• process design and implementation
• new services
• new products
• events

And, yes, it also works with many types of IT projects.

Our instructors have wide experience across many types of projects.

No.

PRINCE2® is suitable for all sizes of project.

Our instructors have wide experience across both large and small projects and will advise you on how to tailor it to suit small projects.

No.

PRINCE2® is suitable for all types of organisation. For instance, it is actively being used in

• Small companies
• Publicly listed corporations
• Global corporations
• The manufacturing sector
• The finance sector
• Telecommunications, publishing, media and service sectors
• The education sector
• The health sector

To name but a few.

Our instructors have a wide experience across many types of organisations and projects.

As part of either the Foundation or Practitioner courses you will receive relevant sample exam packs, which include practice exams.

Project Laneways will send out confirmation of your Foundation exam result within a few days.

Certificate delivery is usually twelve weeks after you have been notified of your result.

Result advice time for the Practitioner exam should be about two weeks.

Foundation Examination - The overall pass rate for Foundation examinations is 98%.

Practitioner Examination - The overall pass rate for Practitioner examinations is 75%.

Our trainers are very experienced as both trainers and project managers. You are almost certain to pass the exam on the first attempt.

In the unlikely event that you are unsuccessful on the first attempt we will cover the exam fees for a second try. However, this must be taken within 3 months of the first attempt, because experience has shown that longer gaps reduce the chance of success.

This is the Project Laneways exam guarantee

Please consult the overview and pricing page for the cost of our public courses.

If you are interested in organising a course at your premises or making a block booking, then please contact at enquiries@project-laneways.com.au or on
03 9038 9236.

No.

All our courses have been designed to cater for both experienced Project Managers and newcomers.

Our instructors are expert at methods of presenting that keep all levels engaged and able to follow the discussion.

If you need to cancel or postpone your course, we will endeavour to fill your place from our waiting list. Obviously, the more notice we get, the easier it is for us to do that.

If we can fill your place, then we will fully refund you or fully credit you for the new date.

If we cannot fill your place, then we may apply the following rules:-

• More than one week’s notice, full refund or apply the payment to a new date.
• More than two working days notice, 80% refund or 80% credit against the new date.
• Less than two working days notice, 50% refund or 50% credit against the new date.

Depends on the course.

We have courses that last anywhere from half a day to five days.

Please consult the overview and pricing page for details on each course.

Unfortunately, Project Laneways at this time does not offer an option to study at home.

Many other companies do offer this type of course but they are often only suitable for people who:-

• Have a lot of project management experience
• Have already worked in a place that uses PRINCE2®