In-House Training FAQ

All of the frequently asked questions relating to our in-house training courses

Please find below a list of the all the frequently asked questions in relation to our in-house training, and their answers. If you cannot find the answer, please contact us via the “Contact Us”page of the website.

To optimise learning outcomes, we recommend no less than 6 and no more than 12 participants per course.  This ensures that all participants have access to participate in discussions, ask and answer questions and achieve the desired learning outcomes during the course.  The absolute maximum number of participants per course is 15.

This is dependent upon your work situation.  Many people like to attend public courses to be exposed to a more diverse range of project activities and to learn from the experience of people in line agencies.  In other situations where course participants are all drawn from the same programme or project the development of joint, common understanding across the whole team can be invaluable.

Yes, anyone likely to assume a team lead or team member role within a programme or project.  The earlier that all members of the team can have access to training, the greater the potential to build individual competence and organisational capability and the successful delivery of change initiatives.

Yes, if training can be arranged to coincide with the critical points in change initiatives then learning can be applied immediately.  Tanner James is flexible in the delivery of courses and the conduct of exams.  We can schedule training to suit staff availability and the current focus of their programme or project. We want to ensure course attendees are focussed on learning about practical application in the workplace rather than just passing an exam.

Tanner James recommends people continue to focus upon their professional development by:

  • Joining the myAXELOS® membership program to support continuous professional development
  • Joining the professional associations – AIPM or PMI.

In the previous question we focussed upon what Tanner James recommends people continue to focus upon in their professional development.

From the perspective of your organisation, building the capability to successfully deliver change initiatives requires on-going effort particularly from SES.  Helping SES to understand their role as leaders of change can be achieved by holding half-day Executive Briefings.  Helping team members to understand the principles of MSP, PRINCE2, PRINCE2 Agile, agile and Kanban is invaluable and can be achieved by holding one-day overview sessions for the whole team involved in each change initiative.

We are able to deliver you the same engaging training as we do in the physical classroom by using whiteboards and breakout rooms for exercise sessions. These help reinforce learning and give you a practical look at how to apply your learnings in the workplace. For more information see our Virtual Training page.

Successfully delivering change initiatives requires on-going effort to apply the knowledge and understanding gained on training courses on the job.  By consciously planning capability improvement activities and reflecting upon and optimising the lessons learnt from prior activities, the skillset of the whole organisation can be lifted.

Tanner James advocates the 70:20:10 adult learning model and delivers on-the-job face-to-face coaching that supports and complements initial classroom learning.  This approach mirrors the strategic learning focus of the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) in which 10% addresses initial understanding via formal courses; 20% addresses the application of that learning and 70% addresses the long-term benefits of experience and the associated lessons learnt.

Tanner James has a five-point approach to get you started by right-sizing MSP, PRINCE2 or PRINCE2 Agile to meet the needs of your change initiative:

  1. Identify the decision-maker and the person responsible for managing the initiative
  2. Talk through the key principles of the method to identify areas likely to need attention
  3. Talk through the main themes of the method to identify areas likely to need attention
  4. Discuss how information is currently being created and communicated
  5. Seek commitment from the decision-maker to a tailoring action plan.

Once you have achieved these five points, talk to Tanner James about our Best Practice Comparison approach to help ensure you are setting out on the right path.  Please also refer to the answer to the question about templates detailed below.

Organisations should seek to have minimal templates as the default way to manage programmes and projects.  Remember the AXELOS Global Best Practice Solutions don’t come with a manual full of templates – just guidance on how to approach the challenges you face.  Too many organisations start change initiatives by pulling out the multi–page set of templates which become the default excuse for not thinking through what your programme or project actually needs.  Even worse they become the tools presented to contractors to sit in the corner to fill out in the name of project management.

Think and talk to your colleagues and stakeholders and don’t type anything before you have.  Next follow the steps outlined in the section above entitled “What is the best way for us to implement MSP, PRINCE2 and/or PRINCE2 Agile?” Then using the experience of programmes and projects that delivered the benefits they set out to achieve, be cognizant of the lessons they learnt and keep templates to a minimum.

One of the greatest determinants of success in the APS is common understanding amongst SES officers.  Tanner James can equip SES officers involved in the direction and leadership of strategic change initiatives with a sound understanding of the methods and the benefits they can bring to them.  With each In-House MSP, PRINCE2 or PRINCE2 Agile Foundation Course, Tanner James will provide at no additional cost, the free delivery of one MSP, PRINCE2 or PRINCE2 Agile Executive Briefing for up to six SES executives involved with the projects or programmes in which course participants are directly involved.  This half-day briefing is valued at over $2,200 including GST.

Senior executives want pragmatic application of MSP, PRINCE2 and Agile approaches to avoid common traps such as too much documentation.  By supporting training for their staff and by making time to attend Executive Briefings, Senior Executives can gain clarity of the roles they should be playing, the information they should be receiving and understanding, and the decisions they should be making.