Practical Project and Portfolio Management course now available

Johannesburg, 07 Sept 2011

Local Enterprise Project Management (EPM) solution provider, UMT Consulting SA, has introduced a unique strategic Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Practitioner training course. In conjunction with Dr Marthi Pohl, the course was developed by UMT Consulting SA to address a range of essential skills focusing primarily on core PPM areas for executives, middle management and PPM management.

Today, more than ever before, CEO's and their executive leadership teams must focus on their bottom lines to ensure future sustainability. The chainsaw approach to cutting budgets is out-dated, executives now need to utilise strategic portfolio management like a scalpel to ensure their investment mix supports optimal strategy execution.

UMT Consulting SA CEO Pieter Meyer says the biggest problem within organisations whilst trying to adapt strategic PPM, is internal politics, positioning it in the organisation and more importantly, not understanding the value-add of strategic portfolio management as a pro-active strategic execution mechanism. Furthermore, it can be seen as a major effort to change the organisation's culture and can put unhealthy pressure on existing empire building Enterprise Project Offices.

The 'Introduction of PPM' is a 1-day course comprising an introduction, overview, component definitions and high level frameworks, and positioning of PPM on all four modules.

UMT Consulting SA also offers a 'Practical Fundamentals of PPM' 4-day course offering detailed skills transfer on all four modules by practical work shopping, facilitation using case studies and practical experience of PPM. The content of each module is listed below:

Module 1: Creating portfolios and business cases

* Why PPM?
* Clarify PPM role & Definitions
* Portfolio Establishment Framework
* Business Case Content value
* PPM Organisation set-up

Module 2: Prioritise & Selecting

* Opportunity Assessment
* Portfolio Governance
* Selection Framework (balance, optimise, prioritise)
* Portfolio Resource Management
* Portfolio Performance Management framework

Module 3: Planning & Execution

* Building a delivery model
* Benefit Realisation
* Management Planning
* Portfolio Risk Management Plan
* Develop a portfolio scorecard
* Overcoming corporate challenges

Module 4: Monitoring & realising benefits

* Manage enterprise resources
* Portfolio Benefit Tracking & Risk Analysis
* Portfolio Reporting

UMT Consulting SA also offers an 'Advanced PPM' 3-day course (module 5) focusing on the strategy engagement of project portfolios through strategy mapping; investment optimisation through strategic pipeline optimisation; holistic portfolio risk versus project risk (include organisational risk tolerance, use of simulation and the handling of project interdependencies); advanced portfolio analysis techniques to balance portfolios; and portfolio stress testing.

Meyer says it is important to note that the 'Practical Fundamentals of PPM' 4-day course provides the basis for the 'Advanced PPM' 3-day course (module 5). "Executives, middle management and PPM managers are invited to participate in either a fundamentals course or an advanced 4-modular practitioner course to acquire the necessary skills and to gain sufficient understanding of PPM to lead organisations with the ability to overcome the above-mentioned hurdles."

"More importantly, to make sure the organisation's strategic objectives are achieved through a proper PPM delivery framework," he concludes.

For more information contact UMT Consulting SA on (012) 345 3518 or info@umtsa.co.za or visit www.umtsa.co.za

UMT Consulting SA

UMT Consulting SA is the largest Project, Program and Portfolio management solutions implementation partner in South Arica and has serviced more than a 100 of the country's leading organisations with its offerings. UMT Consulting SA recently concluded a BEE transaction whereby the Notsi Group owns a 25 percent shareholding in the ordinary share capital of the company. The company is equipped with sound staff values, capacity to deliver on its promise, practical knowledge and it has a BEE partner that actively participates and contributes to the company's success.

UMT Project and Portfolio Management Services South Africa (UMT Consulting SA) was formed through the merger of Fulcrum Business Solutions, South Africa's leading provider of Enterprise Project Management solutions, and UMT Portfolio Management SA, the leading Portfolio Management organisation.

Since 1989, both UMT and Fulcrum Business Solutions have pioneered the field of project and portfolio management and devised unique methodologies that, when combined with effective project management, enable an integrated link between strategy formulation and execution. UMT Consulting SA contributes to its clients' success by linking business and IT strategies to execution through day-to-day activities leading to improved performance and tangible projects delivery results.

UMT Consulting SA methodology, training, mentorship and coaching approach assist organisations successfully to deploy practical and essential Project, Program and Portfolio management processes, templates, systems and governance solutions across their multi-disciplinary divisions or departments.

UMT Consulting SA solutions that consistently help its clients build capabilities that support effective business decision-making and enhances business delivery performance. Its objective is to assist its clients in ensuring the operational delivery of their strategy through effective project, program and portfolio management.

UMT Consulting SA, has achieved a Microsoft Gold Competency for Project and Portfolio management in the Microsoft Partner Network, the highest competency level obtainable through Microsoft.

According to UMT Consulting SA CEO Pieter Meyer, the time has passed to just improve on your delivery processes but to introduce a new way of collaborating between team members, program and project managers, senior managers and executives. "Organisations need to enable and revive their processes by introducing a responsibility, accountability, consult and inputs (RACI) formal governance framework to their projects environments and to use work flow that will manage the governance outputs. Role base delivery management methods will become very important in any organisation ensure return on investments in their project delivery space."

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