Foundation Section
Module 1: Overview – What Is Benefits Management?
This module introduces the terminology used in Managing Benefits and explains what is meant by benefits and benefits management.
It also reviews:
- The track record of change initiatives in delivering expected benefits
- Cognitive biases that can influence benefits management
- The main objectives of benefits management
Module 2: The Benefits Management Principles
This module explores the seven principles that provide the foundation for effective benefits management:
- Align benefits with strategy
- Start with the end in mind
- Utilise successful delivery methods
- Integrate benefits with performance management
- Manage benefits from a portfolio perspective
- Apply effective governance
- Develop a value culture
Module 3: The Benefits Management Cycle
Participants are introduced to the Benefits Management Cycle and the organisational environment in which it operates.
The module also covers:
- Barriers to effective benefits management
- Key Success Characteristics
- Main roles and responsibilities
- Core benefits management documentation
The following five modules then examine each practice within the cycle in greater detail.
Module 4: Benefits Management Practice 1 – Identify & Quantify
The purpose of this practice is to establish a sound basis for options analysis, investment appraisal, and portfolio prioritisation.
Topics include:
- Benefits discovery workshops
- Benefits mapping
- Customer insight
- Benefits forecasting
- Common problems and appropriate responses
Module 5: Benefits Management Practice 2 – Value & Appraise
Once benefits have been identified and quantified, the course considers how they can be valued and assessed.
Topics include:
- Why organisations express benefits in monetary terms
- Approaches to valuing non-financial benefits
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Real options
- Cost-effectiveness
- Multi-criteria analysis
- Value management techniques
Module 6: Benefits Management Practice 3 – Plan
This module focuses on planning for successful benefits realisation.
Topics include:
- Benefits validation
- Benefits prioritisation
- Managing the pre-transition phase
- Selecting benefits measures
- Benefits risk and opportunity management
- Planning stakeholder engagement
- Initiative-level benefits management documentation
- Responsibility for preparing and maintaining key documents
Module 7: Benefits Management Practice 4 – Realize
Benefits rarely occur automatically, so active management is required.
This module considers:
- Transition management
- Tracking and reporting
- Surveys
- Effective stakeholder engagement
- Supporting the behavioural change on which benefits realisation often depends
Module 8: Benefits Management Practice 5 – Review
The final practice examines the importance of review as a mechanism for organisational learning and continuous improvement.
Review activities may take place before, during, and after a change initiative.
Module 9: Portfolio-Based Application of Benefits Management
This module explores why portfolio-level benefits management is important and reviews its main elements.
Module 10: Implementing and Sustaining Progress
Effective benefits management needs to become part of the organisation's culture.
This module considers:
- How to begin implementing benefits management
- How to sustain progress
- Measuring organisational impact
- Assessing benefits management maturity
Practitioner Section
Module 1: Practitioner Exam Overview
This module explains the structure and expected content of the Practitioner examination.
Participants work through typical questions as a group and discuss the different styles of questions that may appear.
Module 2: Applying the Benefits Management Principles
The seven principles introduced at Foundation level are applied to practical scenarios.
Participants analyse both appropriate and inappropriate uses of the principles in different situations.
The principles are:
- Align benefits with strategy
- Start with the end in mind
- Utilise successful delivery methods
- Integrate benefits with performance management
- Manage benefits from a portfolio perspective
- Apply effective governance
- Develop a value culture
Module 3: Benefits Management Practice 1 – Identify & Quantify
Participants apply approaches for identifying and quantifying benefits.
Topics include:
- Benefits discovery workshops
- Benefits mapping
- Customer insight
- Benefits forecasting
- Common problems, issues, and fallacies
- Suitable responses and solutions
Module 4: Benefits Management Practice 2 – Value & Appraise
This module examines how benefits are valued and initiatives assessed.
Participants work with:
- Monetary valuation
- Valuation of non-financial benefits
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Real options
- Cost-effectiveness
- Multi-criteria analysis
- Value management techniques
Practical exercises are used to reinforce the application of these techniques.
Module 5: Benefits Management Practice 3 – Plan
Participants examine the planning activities required for successful benefits realisation.
Topics include:
- Benefits validation
- Prioritisation
- Pre-transition management
- Benefits measures
- Risk and opportunity management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Benefits management documentation
- Relevant roles and responsibilities
Module 6: Benefits Management Practice 4 – Realize
This module focuses on the activities needed to support successful benefits realisation.
Topics include:
- Transition management
- Tracking and reporting
- Surveys
- Stakeholder engagement
- Behavioural change
Module 7: Benefits Management Practice 5 – Review
Participants examine the use of review as a basis for learning and continuous improvement before, during, and after an initiative.
Module 8: Portfolio-Based Application of Benefits Management
The portfolio-based application of benefits management is explored in greater depth.
The portfolio is considered as a permanent organisational function that manages benefits before and after change initiatives and evaluates both individual and collective performance.
Module 9: Implementing and Sustaining Progress
The final module considers how benefits management can be embedded into organisational culture.
Topics include:
- Starting implementation
- Sustaining progress
- Measuring impact
- Assessing maturity
APMG-International Managing Benefits is a trademark of The APM Group Limited.
