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Description

IT Project Management: Scoping, Planning and Steering Every Phase

Run an IT project from requirements definition through to go-live without losing control

  • 3 days — 21 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

IT projects rarely derail overnight. The requirement stays vague at the outset, effort is estimated roughly, work packages slip one after another and user acceptance testing is rushed through a few days before cut-over. Technical teams and business stakeholders then trade blame for the gaps.

These three days follow the full life cycle of an IT project phase by phase. Each stage is addressed with its deliverables and the conditions for moving on to the next. Participants work on a single case-study project that they scope, then plan, then test, through to the closure review.

Learning objectives

  • Formalise the requirements statement and define the project scope
  • Estimate work package effort and build a realistic schedule
  • Track delivery progress using simple indicators
  • Organise functional acceptance testing and obtain user sign-off
  • Prepare go-live and handover to operations
  • Run the end-of-project review and capture lessons from variances

What makes this programme different

A single case-study project followed from the scoping note through to the acceptance report
Reusable deliverable templates including work package sheets and defect logs
An effort estimation workshop based on comparing individual assessments

Programme

1Scoping and Requirements Definition

Setting the scope before the first line of code is written

  • Distinguishing the business need from the intended technical solution
  • Writing a scoping note that commits stakeholders
  • Formalising functional requirements and performance requirements
  • Identifying integration constraints with the existing environment
  • Setting acceptance criteria from the outset

2Estimation and Planning

Translating a scope into effort and milestones

  • Breaking the project down into deliverable work packages
  • Estimating effort by analogy and by decomposition
  • Building the schedule and identifying the critical path
  • Sizing the team and securing scarce skills
  • Costing the budget and setting contingency provisions

3Steering Delivery

Spotting drift before it becomes costly

  • Setting up progress tracking and estimate-to-complete monitoring
  • Maintaining the risk register and triggering mitigation actions
  • Handling scope change requests
  • Running team meetings and the project steering committee
  • Escalating at the right moment and presenting options

4Acceptance Testing and Qualification

Proving that the solution meets the stated need

  • Building the test strategy and the test data sets
  • Writing test scripts from the requirements
  • Organising test campaigns and mobilising users
  • Qualifying defects and tracking their resolution
  • Issuing sign-off and recording outstanding reservations

5Go-Live and Project Closure

Cutting over without interrupting the service

  • Preparing the cut-over plan and the rollback procedure
  • Organising the migration of existing data
  • Training users and equipping the support function
  • Handing the solution over to operations teams
  • Running the project review and capturing lessons learned

Who is it for

New project managers · business analysts · business owners and technical specialists who are called upon to lead an IT project.

Prerequisites

Previous involvement in an IT project as a contributor will make the programme easier to follow.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.