Course

Course Summary
Credit Type:
Course
ACE ID:
VAQA-0002
Organization:
VA Acquisition Academy
Location:
Classroom-based
Length:
123.5 -- 130 hours
Dates Offered:
Credit Recommendation & Competencies
Level Credits (SH) Subject
Upper-Division Baccalaureate 1 Project Management
Upper-Division Baccalaureate 3 Program Management
Upper-Division Baccalaureate 2 Strategic Planning, 2 In Leadership or Applied Management, and 1 In Contract Management or Purchasing or Acquisition
This course is recommended for a total of 9 semester hours in the upper-division baccalaureate degree category.
Description

Objective:

The course objective is to provide the student with senior-level knowledge and application of project management across the entire lifecycle of a project.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Assess agency programs and projects in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local legal and government standards
  • Analyze and approve best practices in management and execution of a program management plan
  • Enable teams to accomplish program objectives
  • Complete the process for program closeout
  • Develop an integrated master plan for a strategic program
  • Analyze projects within the concept definition, planning, development and implementation, operations and maintenance phases
  • Justify and assess business requirements, prioritize gaps, deficiencies and capabilities, identify solutions, and select best concepts/solutions to support business strategic needs
  • Integrate program/project roles and responsibilities including oversight and development of requirements packages, stakeholder management, and program review
  • Assess various program cost estimates including initial costs, program life cycle costs, and price analysis
  • Evaluate and refine the Integrated Master Schedule to ensure the tasks and resources required to accomplish the program are documented
  • Develop and establish applicable program management plans and change management configuration documents, e.g. integrated acquisition, logistics, risk management, test, and evaluation, and quality control
  • Develop and analyze a program-oriented work breakdown structure (WBS) and requirements
  • Authorize a performance baseline for Earned Value Management (EVM) as it pertains to the program/project
  • Justify vendor selection, selection criteria and verify that contracts are executed to support the program requirements and plans

General Topics:

  • Managing program/project integration
  • Performance management
  • Program, project and acquisition planning and management
  • Strategy, requirements and scope management
  • Scheduling and control
  • Vendor selection
  • Risk and cost management
  • Work breakdown structure, earned value management, best practices, quality controls and cost estimating
Instruction & Assessment

Instructional Strategies:

  • Audio Visual Materials
  • Case Studies
  • Classroom Exercise
  • Discussion
  • Learner Presentations
  • Lectures
  • Practical Exercises

Methods of Assessment:

  • Case Studies
  • Performance Rubrics (Checklists)
  • Presentations
Supplemental Materials