Course Content
Title: Occupational Certificate: Project Manager – Qualification Document
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Qualification Documents and Attachments
Knowledge Module 1: Project Management Fundamentals
project characteristics, the project environment, organisational structures, the triple constraint, and the essential competencies required of project managers. Learners gain an understanding of the full project life cycle and the key roles involved in delivering successful projects.
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Lesson 1: Introduction to Project Management
KM01 Quiz: Project Management Fundamentals
00:25:00
KM01 Assignment – Project Management Fundamentals
Knowledge Module 2 : Project Initiation
This module introduces learners to the processes, documentation, and decision-making required to formally start a project. Learners explore how project needs are identified, how feasibility is assessed, and how the project is authorised through key documents such as the Business Case and Project Charter. The module also covers stakeholder identification and analysis, high-level scope definition, early risk assessment, and the roles of the sponsor and project manager in initiating a project. By completing this module, learners will understand how to justify, structure, and secure approval for a new project, laying the foundation for detailed planning in subsequent phases
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Lesson 1: Project Initiation
KM02 Quiz – Project Initiation
00:25:00
KM02 Assignment – Project Initiation
Knowledge Module 3 : Project Planning
This module focuses on the detailed planning activities required to establish a clear roadmap for project execution. Learners will understand how scope is defined, how the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is developed, how schedules and budgets are created, and how resources, risks, quality, and communication are planned. By the end of the module, learners will be able to develop a comprehensive and realistic project plan that guides the team throughout the project lifecycle.
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KM03 – Lesson 1: Project Planning
KM03 Quiz – Project Planning
00:25:00
KM03 Assignment – Project Planning
Module 4 (KM04) – Project Execution
This module focuses on the execution of project plans to deliver the project’s defined scope and objectives. Learners will explore team coordination, leadership, communication, procurement management, quality implementation, contractor management, and how work is carried out according to project baselines. The module emphasises practical oversight, effective stakeholder engagement, and managing changes or challenges that arise during execution. By the end of this module, learners will understand how to manage people, resources, tasks, and unexpected issues to keep the project on track.
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KM04 – Lesson 1: Project Execution
KM04 Quiz – Project Execution
00:25:00
KM04 Assignment – Project Execution
Occupational Certificate: Project Manager (SAQA ID 101869)

Lesson 1: The Project Planning Phase

1. Introduction to Project Planning

Project planning is the most intensive and critical phase of project management.
This is where the project manager defines how the project will be executed, monitored, and controlled.

Planning ensures:

  • Risks are understood
  • Resources are allocated properly
  • Stakeholders are aligned
  • Activities are sequenced logically
  • Budgets and timelines are realistic

A well-prepared plan increases the likelihood that the project will meet its objectives.

2. Key Deliverables of the Planning Phase

The planning phase produces several major documents, including:

  • Project Management Plan (overall master plan)
  • Scope Management Plan
  • Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
  • Schedule and Gantt Chart
  • Cost Management Plan and Budget
  • Risk Management Plan
  • Quality Plan
  • Resource Plan
  • Communication Plan
  • Procurement Plan

These plans together form the Project Management Plan the single approved document used to guide project execution.

3. Defining Project Scope

Scope defines what the project will deliver, and equally important, what it will not deliver.

Scope includes:

  • Deliverables
  • Requirements
  • Features and functions
  • Boundaries and exclusions
  • Acceptance criteria

Why scope matters:

  • Prevents misunderstandings
  • Helps control “scope creep”
  • Guides resource and cost planning
  • Sets expectations early

4. Creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) breaks the entire project into smaller, manageable components.

Levels of a WBS:

  1. Project Title
  2. Major Deliverables
  3. Work Packages
  4. Tasks and Subtasks

Benefits of the WBS:

  • Improves accuracy of estimates
  • Makes scheduling easier
  • Supports clear responsibility assignment (RACI or RAM)
  • Forms the foundation of the entire planning phase

The rule of a WBS:

You do not plan activities you plan deliverables.

Activities flow from deliverables, not the other way round.

5. Developing the Project Schedule

Scheduling creates a timeline for project execution.

It includes:

  • Task sequencing
  • Dependencies (Finish-to-Start, Start-to-Start, etc.)
  • Estimating duration
  • Creating a Gantt Chart
  • Identifying milestones

Common scheduling tools include:

  • Microsoft Project
  • Excel
  • Primavera
  • Monday.com
  • Jira
  • Smartsheet

Critical Path Method (CPM)

The Critical Path is the longest sequence of tasks that determines project duration.

If any critical path task is delayed, the entire project is delayed.

6. Estimating Project Costs and Creating a Budget

The budget includes:

  • Labour costs
  • Material costs
  • Equipment
  • Suppliers/contractors
  • Overheads
  • Contingency

Methods used:

  • Analogous estimating (based on previous projects)
  • Parametric estimating (based on unit rates)
  • Bottom-up estimating (most accurate, based on WBS)

The final budget becomes the Cost Baseline.

7. Resource Planning

Resources include:

  • People (skills, roles, availability)
  • Equipment
  • Materials
  • Facilities
  • Software tools

Resource planning ensures:

  • Enough capacity exists
  • The right skills are available
  • No overallocation happens
  • The schedule is realistic based on resource limits

Tools: RACI, RAM, resource calendars, skills matrices.

8. Risk Management Planning

Risk planning includes:

Risk Identification

What could go wrong? What opportunities could help the project?

Risk Analysis

  • Qualitative: likelihood + impact
  • Quantitative (for advanced projects): cost/time impact calculations

Risk Response Planning

  • Mitigate
  • Accept
  • Avoid
  • Transfer

A Risk Register is developed and updated throughout the project.

9. Quality Planning

Quality planning ensures the project’s deliverables meet stakeholder expectations.

Key elements:

  • Quality standards
  • Measurement methods
  • Acceptance criteria
  • Inspection and review processes

Example:
A software project may define acceptance criteria for system performance, user interface standards, and error tolerance.

10. Communication Planning

Communication planning answers:

  • What information is needed?
  • Who needs it?
  • How often?
  • What channels will we use? (email, meetings, dashboards, reports)
  • Who creates each communication?

A Communication Matrix helps keep information flowing correctly.

11. Procurement Planning

Procurement planning determines:

  • What needs to be purchased
  • Vendor selection criteria
  • Tendering or sourcing strategy
  • Contract types (fixed price, time & materials, etc.)

12. Putting It All Together: The Project Management Plan

All the individual plans (scope, schedule, cost, risk, etc.) combine to form the Project Management Plan.

This master plan:

  • Guides execution
  • Provides baselines
  • Is used for controlling changes
  • Must be approved before execution starts

🎯 Lesson Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

  1. Describe the purpose of the project planning phase
  2. Create and explain a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
  3. Understand how to develop project schedules and identify the critical path
  4. Estimate project costs and build a realistic budget
  5. Conduct risk identification and planning
  6. Develop key project management plans
  7. Understand how communication, quality, and procurement planning integrate into the final Project Management Plan
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