APM PFQ case studies

APM PFQ · Put your knowledge to work in context.

The APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) is the Association for Project Management's introductory, multiple-choice qualification in project management. APM states: "We’re the only chartered membership organisation for the project profession in the world", and reports that it has "over 40,000 members and more than 480 corporate partners". The APM PFQ case studies are 5 cases and about 4,525 words.

Northgate Depot Refurbishment - choosing a life cycle under emerging requirements

Northgate is a 14-month, £3.2m project to refurbish a live distribution depot so automated picking can be installed while 400 staff continue to despatch orders. The operations director, who is also the sponsor, has mandated a linear stage-gate life cycle "because the warehouse build in 2019 ran that way".

807 words, about 4 min 2

Meridian Self-Service Portal - delivered on time, but was it a success?

Meridian Retail's 'Customer Self-Service Portal' project closed 11 months ago: delivered for £480k against a £500k budget, on the agreed date, and signed off against every documented requirement. The business case promised a 20% cut in contact-centre call volumes and £300k a year saved by redeploying six advisers.

791 words, about 4 min 3

Ashfield Hospital Records Migration - a communication plan that only broadcasts

Ashfield Hospital Trust is nine months into an 18-month, £2.1m migration of 340,000 patient records. The communication plan consists of a monthly email newsletter from the project manager to "all staff" and a fortnightly progress report to the steering group.

909 words, about 5 min 4

Line 4 Control System Upgrade - critical path, accelerated schedule and a doubtful duration

You are planning a control-system upgrade during a fixed plant shutdown. Activities and dependencies (working days): A = 4, start; B = 6, after A; C = 3, after A; D = 5, after B; E = 2, after C; F = 4, after D and E; G = 3, after F.

972 words, about 5 min 5

Pharma Logistics Dispensing Rollout - inspection instead of quality, and a rubber-stamp change board

Pharma Logistics is rolling out a new dispensing and label-printing system across 40 sites in 10 months. There is no quality plan.

1,046 words, about 5 min