ICE006 - Project Governance, Sponsorship, and Introduction to Agile Project Management

Course Description

Governance

Project success is highly dependent on leadership and executive ownership and involvement. This course discusses project governance as the framework to project oversight and the link between the project manager and the executive level. We will discuss the essential principles of governance for projects as described in the standard ISO 21505 Project, programme, and portfolio management - Guidance on Governance. 

This course is for you if you are a project manager, project funder, project sponsor, senior management member, or a member of a team starting a major project.

Sponsorship

Despite the importance of governance and sponsorship and the senior level where they take place, they are often overlooked, and many projects fail due to a lack of sufficient support from the organization and senior management. The lack of meaningful support is driven by a lack of recognition of the importance of this support and the lack of time and capacity by senior management to do what they may view as "babysitting projects", especially after putting the project in the good hands of a qualified project manager. 

This half-day power session reviews senior management's role in supporting project success. It explores applying impactful project sponsorship techniques to support projects for success.

Introduction to Agile Project Management

Many organizations are now introducing agile delivery techniques into the workplace to deliver faster and with greater efficiency. To achieve these benefits, agile methods encourage closer collaboration between the project business stakeholders and the project delivery team, they encourage the lowering of barriers (functional silos) between roles, and they promote communications techniques that foster a culture of openness and transparency. This level of change may create resistance for some people who have difficulty adapting. One of the best ways of overcoming such resistance is through education.

This course introduces stakeholders and project team members to the agile way of working using a common Scrum framework. Unlike typical Scrum-based training, however, it expands the framework to include an overview of agile requirements management techniques and agile estimating and planning techniques, which are used to set reasonable stakeholder expectations at the start of an agile project. 

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Business and Education #92

This course provides education and training on corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples to gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.

Learning Outcomes - Project Governance

Learners will gain practical skills to: 

• Explain the role of governance in the context of project accountability.
• Implement a governance framework for a project that is aligned with globally accepted practices and the organizational governance framework.
• Differentiate their role in the governance of a project.
• Assemble an appropriate oversight and reporting strategy for a project.

Learning Outcomes - Project Sponsorship

Learners will gain practical skills to: 

• Describe the role of project sponsorship in project success.
• Construct a project canvas.
• Explain the tools of project governance.

Learning Outcomes - Introduction to Agile Project Management

Learners will gain practical skills to: 

• Provide project stakeholders and project team members with a basic understanding of how agile projects are structured.
• Introduce the common Scrum framework.
• Describe how disciplined approaches to agile can be used to set (and manage) realistic stakeholder expectations.

Skills and Competencies

• Leadership
• Decision-making
• Project oversight
• Project governance
• Agile philosophy
• Overview of the SCRUM method
• Agile requirements management
• Rolling wave planning
• The 3 Levels of Agile Planning
• Day in the life of an agile team

Summary

• Number of hours: 3.5 hours/day x 4 days = 14 hours

• Assessment: Attendance and participation are mandatory for all four sessions and are monitored by the facilitator. Lack of attendance and/or participation may affect the learner's successful completion of the course. Successful completion of the course involves achieving 80% on the Final Quiz. An incomplete course will count as a fail.

• Previous education required: The prerequisite for this course is Project Management Essentials. The remaining badges of the Project Management MicroCertificate can be taken in any order.

• Delivery: Hybrid course with online modules and remote learning (Four half-day Zoom meetings).

• Completion timeline: You will have access to the course for one week from the last scheduled course date.

FAQ's

Is this course for everyone?

• Yes, this course is relevant to all people from all walks of life. The learners' life experiences will influence how they experience the course.

Some individuals and organizations may be GST-exempt.

• First Nations University of Canada is situated on the Star Blanket First Nation and is exempt from Provincial Sales Tax (PST). If you or your organization are exempt from Government Sales Tax (GST), please contact icec@firstnationsuniversity.ca to ensure that your invoice is prepared accordingly.

I need financial support. What funding options does ICEC recommend?

• Check out our Funding Opportunities here. 

I am interested in an in-person offering of this course. 

• Please contact icec@firstnationsuniversity.ca to learn more about which courses can be offered in person and discuss the options. 

Who do I contact if I need help?

• Check out ICEC's Learner Support page to see if your question is answered in the FAQs. If your question remains unresolved, feel free to complete the form with your question, or you may contact icec@firstnationsuniversity.ca for assistance with any questions you may have. We are here to help! Support requests are received during regular office hours. Please expect a response within 24-48 hours. 

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Project Management Professional MicroCertificate : Project Management Professional MicroCertificate