In 2022, IPM made a pivotal move to enhance accessibility in project management education with the launch of an on-demand Certified Project Management Diploma. This diploma programme set a new standard by allowing professionals worldwide to access high-quality project management training at their convenience. The success of this first on-demand programme highlighted the need for flexible learning options that could meet the demands of today’s fast-paced work environment. With overwhelmingly positive feedback and a significant impact on career trajectories, the Certified Project Management Diploma established a pathway for more advanced courses delivered on demand.
Building on this success, IPM has now introduced two more advanced on-demand diploma programmes: Strategic Project Programme Management Diploma, which focuses on programme management, and the Project Leadership and Management Diploma which teaches project leadership. These professional diplomas are tailored for project managers who want to deliver strategic methodologies and impactful stewardship to their organisations. If you have full workdays or are otherwise busy during normal course hours, then the on-demand option is perfect for developing your career in a way that adapts to the demands of your schedule.
Both are designed to equip professionals with strategic and leadership skills, enabling them to take on more complex roles within their organisations. Utilising both courses involves the disciplined planning, implementation and monitoring of projects in a way that contributes to achieving long-term organisational success.
IPM’s Strategic Project Programme Management Diploma prepares professionals for strategic oversight roles by providing a pathway to mastering the management of multiple interlinked projects at once. Taking this course increases proficiencies in analysing your current project portfolio strategically, contributing to your organisation's overall strategy and empowering you to oversee projects at a higher contextual level.
Unlike traditional project management, which focuses on guiding a project from beginning to end, the Strategic Project Programme Management Diploma involves a more comprehensive approach. The term "strategic" signifies taking a calculated, deliberate approach towards managing a range of ongoing projects. The strategic approach encompasses understanding the field’s core principles, learning methodologies, and best practices associated with managing individual projects, as well as experience in coordinating multiple projects as part of a programme.
Mastery of these disciplines enables project managers to effectively plan, execute and monitor projects within the broader strategic context of the organisation. This course is ideal for project managers or seasoned professionals looking to transition into and prove their expertise in strategic programme management. IPM’s programme management course ensures you can contribute meaningfully and strategically to your organisation’s overall success.
Strategic management includes several key components essential for organisational success. These components are the foundation for developing and executing strategies aligning with the organisation's overarching goals. Some of the key components of strategy that you’ll learn in IPM’s programme management course include:
A clear vision outlines the organisation's aspired future state, whereas the mission defines its reason for existence. Together, they provide direction and purpose, guiding strategic decisions and actions.
Determining precise and measurable objectives is the foundation of strategic management. It provides a cohesive direction for the entire organisation.
Understanding the business environment is essential. This means evaluating industry trends, competitive dynamics, market variables and potential risks and opportunities.
The subsequent step involves crafting a strategy after setting clear goals and analysing industry trends. This determines how the organisation will realise its objectives, considering factors such as differentiation, cost-effectiveness or target market focus.
Once strategies are formulated, they then must be translated into action through effective implementation. This involves allocating resources, defining roles and responsibilities, establishing timelines and monitoring progress towards achieving strategic objectives.
This phase necessitates aligning the organisation's structure, processes, personnel and ethos with the chosen strategy.
Continuous assessment and control mechanisms are crucial to ensure the selected strategy produces the desired results. If the strategies are not working, this step provides the opportunity to make changes. Key performance indicators (KPIs) track progress and identify areas needing adjustment or improvement.
The Project Leadership & Management Diploma course at IPM gives students the skills to develop the traits and attitudes that will identify them as seasoned leaders in the workforce. The course combines both essential knowledge about navigating interpersonal relationships and project complexities with practical experience and insight from real project management professionals. This course will empower you to lead your team to success regardless of challenges.
Leaders face many difficulties in managing their teams and projects. Project leadership is about facing these disruptions with integrity and strength to give your team and stakeholders the confidence to proceed. Learning how to adapt yourself to different project management environments without degrading the quality of your leadership will enable you to understand the nature of organisational behaviour to mitigate conflict and encourage maximum efficiency.
Like the Strategic Project Programme Management Diploma, project leadership guides you through the key skills necessary to find success as a project management leader.
Evaluating the three areas of organisational behaviour—leadership and followership, corporate and national culture, effective team dynamics and the organisation’s primary task—gives you the information to formulate a strong understanding of your projected goals.
A project is only as strong as the foundation is built on. Once your goals are understood, create a plan that accounts for potential risks or conflict, stakeholder interests and team dynamics. Doing so sets your project up for success, no matter its size or complexity.
Dynamics change depending on the team, project and organisation. Becoming adaptable means you can meet everyone’s needs without impeding progress.
A quick way to disrupt project success is to build up distrust. Developing and maintaining personal integrity supports team members and creates an environment of trust.
Preserving relationships throughout the lifetime of a project is crucial for its success. Tact in negotiation can minimise disagreements and increase everyone’s satisfaction with a project’s end results.
Create awareness around conflict by observing group dynamics, agendas, resources and other potential constraints to develop the best mitigation strategies when crises do arise.
To become a strategic programme manager, you need to be able to balance multiple complex, often interlinking, projects at one time. Your scope is often quite large as you focus on long-term outcomes that may span across multiple departments and goals. Strong programme management requires professionals to be business-oriented and capable of intense levels of coordination.
Project leaders are more focused on a smaller, more interpersonal scope. Where programme managers juggle various large-scale strategic objectives, project leaders are more project-specific with prioritisation on effective communication and team coordination.
However, the two approaches aid each other well. Taking a Strategic Project Programme Management Diploma alongside a Project Leadership & Management Diploma one is an outstanding way of adding value to your professional profile. Both require cultivating strategic thinking and communication skills that involve recognising the bigger goals of teams and projects to understand how they’ll fit into an organisation's overall success.
Taking the programme management or project leadership course will improve your career opportunities by offering new avenues for meaningful work. Both options offer chances for promotion and advanced professional roles. Discover new possibilities with IPM’s certifications.
IPM is excited to now offer the Strategic Project Programme Management Diploma and the Project Leadership & Management Diploma on demand. IPM’s dedication to meeting student needs is modernising project management education and certification. Understanding that students often have busy lives outside of their professional development means we need to meet them where they are.
Both courses can now be fully accessed on demand for up to three months. Give yourself the space to make the most of your education in a manner that suits you. The courses have been adapted so you can learn in your own time, at your own pace. Kickstart your professional development by enrolling in our on demand courses.
In today's complex business environment, organisations must align their projects with their strategic goals and advanced communication to succeed.
Organisations will need individuals who understand strategic thinking, negotiation skills, polished leadership, effective communication, and also project, program and portfolio management expertise to accomplish such excellence.
With a commitment to continuous learning, aspiring strategic project managers can confidently navigate the challenges and opportunities of the dynamic business world. Enrol in our courses to stay on top of the evolving field of project management.
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