PM² Foundation Syllabus & Starter Package
1. Introduction
The PM² certification qualification is aimed at project managers and aspiring project managers. It is also relevant to other key staff involved in the design, development and delivery of projects, including project board members (e.g. senior responsible owners), team managers (e.g. product delivery managers), project assurance (e.g. business change analysts), project support (e.g. Project and Programme Office personnel), and operational line managers/staff.
2. Exam overview
Material allowed | None | This is a ‘closed book’ exam. The Project Management Methodology, Guide 3.01, should be used for study, but is NOT permitted to be used in the exam. |
Exam duration | 75 minutes | |
Number of marks | 100 marks | There are 100 questions, each worth 1 mark. There is no negative marking. |
Pass mark | 70 marks | You will need to get 70 questions correct (70%) to pass the exam. |
Level of thinking | Bloom’s levels 1&2 | “Bloom’s level” describes the type of thinking needed to answer the question. For Bloom’s level 1 questions, you need to recall information about the PM² method. For Bloom’s 2 questions, you need to show understanding of these concepts. |
Question types | Classic and Missing word | The questions are all ‘multiple choice’. For the ‘classic’ questions, you have a question and four answer options. For the ‘missing word’ questions, there is a sentence with a word missing and you have to select the missing word from four options. |
3. Syllabus
The tables below summarise the concepts that candidates are expected to master at the learning level specified to qualify for the PM² certification. For each learning objective one or more assessment criteria have been specified. The document reference describes in which part of the PM² guide these are described.
3.1.1. Learning outcome 1 – Understand key concepts relating to projects
Assessment Criteria | Document reference | Bloom’s level | Marks |
1.1 Recall a) The definition and characteristics of a project b) The function of project management and project documentation c) At a high level the required knowledge and skills of a project manager (excluding ipma, table of competences) | 2.1, 2.2, 2.3.2 | 1 | 4 |
1.2 Describe a) The relationship between outputs, outcomes, and benefits b) The relationship between projects, programmes, portfolios, and business as usual c) The different ways of organising projects within an organisation and the consequence of each approach | 2.1, 2.2, 2.3.1 | 2 | 6 |
3.1.2. Learning outcome 2 – Understand key concepts relating to PM²
Assessment Criteria | Document reference | Bloom’s level | Marks |
2.1 Recall a) The PM² project phases and gates | 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, D.1, D.2 (intro only), D.3 (intro only) | 1 | 4 |
2.2 Describe a) The house of PM² b) The reason of applying a phased approach to a project c)The goal of each element of the phased approach of PM² d)The swim lane diagram (fig 3.8) e) The PM² mindsets f)The concept of tailoring at PM² at organisational and project level | 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6 | 2 | 7 |
3.1.3. Learning outcome 3 – Understand the project organisation and roles in PM²
Assessment Criteria | Document reference | Bloom’s level | Marks |
3.1 Recall a) The definition of a stakeholder b) The responsibilities of each of the roles in the pm² model for project governance | 4.1, 4.3- 4.11 | 1 | 2 |
3.2 Describe a) The layers and roles of the project organisation b) The difference between the provider and requestor side of a project and how this is reflected in the governance structure c) The specific role of the project steering committee and the required roles partaking d) The function and abbreviations of the (ram) rasci table | 4.2, 4.12, App. E | 2 | 4 |
3.1.4. Learning outcome 4 – Understand the working of the phases of a project
Assessment Criteria | Document reference | Bloom’s level | Marks |
4.1 Recall a) The activities in each phase of the project b) For each activity
c) How each phase is finalized and how to prepare for this | 5, 5.1 – 5.5 6, 6.1 – 6.9 7, 7.1 – 7.6 8, 8.1 – 8.4 | 1 | 10 |
4.2 Describe a) The function and composition of the Project Initiation Request, Business Case and the Project Charter in PM² and their relation to other PM² artefacts b) The techniques for supporting the Initiating Phase:
| 5.2 – 5.4, Fig 5.3 Glossary Appendix C.1 – C.2 Templates | 2 | 4 |
4.3 Describe a) The composition of the Project Handbook in PM² and its relation to other PM² artefacts, specifically the 6 artefacts that describe the various project management processes | 6.2 Templates | 1 | 9 |
4.4 Describe a) The function and composition of the Project-End Report in PM² and its relation to other PM² artefacts b) The techniques for supporting the Closing Phase:
| 8.3 Template Appendix C.17 | 2 | 2 |
3.1.5. Learning outcome 5 – Understand project planning
Assessment Criteria | Document reference | Bloom’s level | Marks |
5.1 Describe a) The three parts of the project work planb) The techniques for creating the project work plan, specifically
| 6.4 Appendix C.5, C.7 – C.8, C.10, C.12 – C.13 Templates | 2 | 4 |
5.2 Recall a) Supporting techniques for creating the project work plan, specifically
| Appendix C.6, C.11 | 1 |
3.1.6. Learning outcome 6 – Understand the monitoring and controlling of projects
Assessment Criteria | Document reference | Bloom’s level | Marks |
6.1 Recall a) The activities of monitor and control b) For each activity
c) The checklists provided in pm² for monitor and control | 9, 9.1 – 9.13 | 1 | 7 |
6.2 Describe specifically a) The purpose of transition management b) The purpose of business implementation c) The purpose of managing outsourcing | 9.11 9.12 9.13 | 1 | 4 |
3.1.7. Learning outcome 7 – Understand risks and issues in projects
Assessment Criteria | Document reference | Bloom’s level | Marks |
7.1 Recall a) The definition of the concepts of Risk and Issue | Glossary | 1 | 4 |
7.2 Describe a) The function and composition of the Risk Management Plan and the Risk Log in PM² including the various risk response strategies. b) The steps that make up the risk management process | 9.7 Appendix B.3, B.8 Templates | 2 | 6 |
7.3 Describe a) The function and composition of the Issue Management Plan and the Issue and Decision Log in PM² b) The steps that make up the issue management process | 9.8, Appendix B.4, B.9, B.10 Templates | 2 | 7 |
7.4 Recall a) The techniques for managing risks and issues
| Appendix C.1, C.4, C.9, C.16 | 1 | 3 |
3.1.8. Learning outcome 8 – Understand change, quality, and requirements management
Assessment Criteria | Document reference | Bloom’s level | Marks |
8.1 Recall a) The definition of Requirements and Change (Requests) | Glossary | 1 | |
8.2 Describe
a) The steps that make up the change management process | 9.6 Appendix B.2, B.7 | 2 | 5 |
8.3 Describe a) The relationship between the quality assurance and management of quality b) The relationship between the management of requirement, project change and deliverable acceptance c) The function and composition of the Quality Management Plan | 7.3, 9.9 9.10 Appendix B.5 | 2 | 2 |
8.4 Describe a) The function and composition of the:
| 6.6, 9.5, 9.10 Appendix B.1 | 1 |
3.1.9. Learning outcome 9 – Understand reporting, communication and stakeholder management
Assessment Criteria | Document reference | Bloom’s level | Marks |
9.1 Recall a) The purpose of managing project stakeholders and information distribution b) The different PM² reports defined
| 7.4 – 7.5, 9.4 | 1 | 2 |
9.2 Describe a) The function and composition of the Communication Management Plan and the Project Stakeholder Matrix in PM² b) The techniques for managing stakeholders
c) The techniques for reporting
| 6.3 Appendix B.6 Appendix C.3, C.15 | 2 | 5 |
4. Example of mappings
Which role (or roles) are Responsible (RASCI:R) for the activity of Manage Transition?
a) Project Steering Committee (PSC).
b) Project Manager (PM) and Project Owner (PO).
c) Project Owner (PO) or the Appropriate Governance Body (AGB).
d) Project Manager (PM).
This question is related to Learning outcome 6, Assessment criterium 6.1b. The question is at Bloom level 1 (recall), Guide reference 9.11
Which of the following is NOT one of the PM² Management Plans?
a) The Risk Management Plan.
b) The Communications Management Plan.
c) The Data Security Management Plan.
d) The Quality Management Plan.
This question is related to Learning outcome 4, Assessment criterium 4.4a. The question is at Bloom level 1 (recall), Guide reference 6.2.2
The inputs that are necessary to monitor the project performance and determine whether the project is advancing satisfactorily are (select the best answer):
a) Risk Log; Decision Log; Project Change Log; Minutes of Meetings (MoMs from past meetings); and Project Handbook.
b) Project Work Plan (baselined); Decision Log; Project Change Log.
c) Project Handbook; Project Work Plan (baselined); Project Logs; Quality Checklists; Minutes of Meetings (from past meetings); Input from the Contractor’s Project Manager (if applicable).
d) Project Initiation Request; Business Case; Project Charter.
This question is related to Learning outcome 4, Assessment criterium 4.4a. The question is at Bloom level 1 (recall), Guide reference 6.2.2.
The main purpose of the Business Case is to:
a) Ensure that the project fits in the Work Plan of the organisation.
b) Justify why the project is worth being funded.
c) Ensure that the project will be adequately resourced.
d) Ensure that a SWOT analysis is done before planning the project.
This question is related to Learning outcome 4, Assessment criterium 4.3a. The question is at Bloom level 2 (recall), Guide reference 5.3.