Managing Benefits Foundation

Learning how to effectively Manage Benefits is core to every Portfolio, Programme and Project, as it underpins the reason for change and why the investment was made in the first place.

In this new post-recession world we live in, accountability is more important than ever, and delivery and realisation of Benefits is at the top of most senior executives list of priorities.

The reason organisations invest in change is to realise benefits, yet it is estimated that around two thirds of projects fail to realise those benefits, because the benefits are not being correctly forecasted, measured or managed to successful delivery.

The Managing Benefits training is available in classroom and online format, which can be taken anywhere in the world and combined with online exams.

The purpose of the APMG International Managing Benefits™ guidance and certification scheme is to provide managers and practitioners from multiple disciplines, working in a variety of organisations, with generally applicable guidance encompassing benefits management principles, practices and techniques. Training Bytesize are the only accredited company to offer either online or classroom options for training and certification.

Learning how to effectively manage benefits is core to every portfolio, programme and project, as it underpins the reason for change and why the investment was made in the first place.

In this new post-recession world we live in, accountability is more important than ever, and delivery and realisation of Benefits is at the top of most senior executives list of priorities.

The reason organisations invest in change is to realise benefits, yet it is estimated that around two thirds of projects fail to realise those benefits, because the benefits are not being correctly forecast, measured or managed to successful delivery.

This Managing Benefits Foundation course provides:

• An overview of benefits management – what it is, the case for doing it, and some common misconceptions that can limit its effectiveness in practice.
• Descriptions of the seven principles upon which successful approaches to benefits management are built, and examples of how they can be/have been applied in practice.
• Guidance on how to apply benefits management at a portfolio level, as well as at an individual project or programme level.
• Details of the five practices in the Benefits Management Cycle and examples of how they can be/have been applied in practice.
• Advice on how to get started in implementing effective benefits management practices and sustain progress.

Managing Benefits has been carefully designed to complement existing Best Practice in portfolio, programme and project management such as PRINCE2®, MSP®, P3O® & MoP®. It consolidates existing guidance on benefits management into one place, while expanding on the specific practices and techniques aimed at optimising benefits realisation.

The Foundation level aims to measure whether a candidate understands the benefits management principles, practices, techniques, roles, responsibilities and documents, specifically to know and understand the:

• Definitions, scope and objectives of benefits management, barriers to its effective practice, and the key success characteristics.
• Principles upon which successful approaches to benefits management are based.
• Five practices contained within the Benefits Management Cycle and relevant techniques applicable to each practice.
• Scope of key roles and responsibilities for benefits management and the typical contents of the main benefits management documentation.
• Approaches to implementation and the factors to consider in sustaining progress.

Benefits for your organisation

• Realise benefits to improve prospects in terms of investors, clients, revenue and efficiency levels regardless of professional discipline and type of organisation.
• Ability to demonstrate more efficient and effective practices through better use of available resources. This enhances an organisation’s ability to retain motivated and skilled change management staff and to attract investors.
• Improved return on investment from change initiatives as more benefits are realised and sustained for longer.
• Enhanced confidence on the part of regulators and funding agencies – so helping ensure continued funding for change.
• Have an organisation-wide understanding of the benefits a project or programme will produce and be able to measure when they are realised.

Benefits for you

• Enhanced professional competence through benefits management practices and techniques.
• Ability to implement methods, including knowledge of management accountancy, behavioural finance, psychology, neuro-science and systems thinking.
• Understanding of the seven principles upon which successful approaches to benefits management are built and applied to projects, programmes and portfolios. The guide provides a route map to adoption of more cost-effective techniques and practices.
• Adept at forecasting realistic benefits to produce business cases which address business issues and objectives and provide a route to measure success.
• Outline costs and benefits to drive business objectives.

What is the format of the Managing Benefits exam?

• Multiple choice format
• 50 questions per paper
• 25 marks or more required to pass – 50%
• 40 minutes duration
• Closed-book exam

Online learning is a great way to study and our e-learning courses are interactive and engaging

Studying for your qualification online is a viable option for so many project managers:

• Learning is completely flexible to suit your busy schedule
• The interactive online course consists of voice-over and animation to keep you engaged throughout the learning
• You can access it anywhere in the world and take your exam online at a time that suits you best
• The Foundation e-learning will take around 10 hours to complete and includes a mock exam simulator with hundreds of past questions so you can really test yourself before going for the real exam
• Our pass rates are well in excess of the national average (nearly 100%!), there is really no reason you should fail!

We produced a range of short films so you can quickly and easily discover everything you need to know about Managing Benefits and decide if it’s the right course for you at this stage of your career. Just one of the films is listed above, you can find another 23 short films on Managing Benefits on our YouTube page.

Our 5 star reviews speak for themselves

When you're looking for a training provider you should always read their independent reviews. Understanding how other students found the learning platform, course, training materials, tutor and admin support will give you an unbiased, accurate and valuable insight. Here is a recent review, you can find more on Reviews.

"Experienced knowledgeable trainer took us through a well structured, well paced programme of training. Our learning was reviewed and re-affirmed at regular intervals. Couldn’t have asked for more. Wholeheartedly recommend this business." - Diana Davies

The Managing Benefits Foundation is perfect for those with a role in ensuring best use of funds by maximising the benefits realised from change initiatives. This multi-disciplinary group includes:

• Change leaders (e.g. senior responsible owners & directors of change)
• Change initiators (e.g. strategic planners and policy leads)
• Change appraisers and evaluators (e.g. business case developers and project appraisers)
• Change implementers/enablers (e.g. portfolio, programme & project managers)
• Change support staff (e.g. portfolio, programme & project office staff).

Everyone involved in managing benefits, development of the Business Case, or indeed the Project will benefit from the tools and techniques described in the online Managing Benefits course, and can go on to take a recognised certification through the Foundation exam.

Although Managing Benefits would apply to any organisation undertaking change, it is particularly relevant to companies using PRINCE2® or MSP®, and builds on the Benefits Realisation within the project and programme lifecycle.

As an individual, Managing Benefits also builds on your existing qualifications of PRINCE2® or Managing Successful Programmes® to better plan, forecast and realise improvements for your business.

There are no pre-requisites for this course.