Pensions and Retirement Training Course on Project Management in Pension Systems

Module 1: Introduction to Project Management in Pension Systems
Overview of project management fundamentals and principles
The role of project management in pension reforms and system development
Pension system project typologies: IT systems, data migration, compliance upgrades
Governance structures and stakeholder roles in pension projects
Case study: Lessons from a pension system modernization project

Module 2: Project Initiation and Feasibility Assessment
Identifying needs and defining project objectives
Conducting feasibility studies and business case development
Stakeholder mapping and alignment with pension governance frameworks
Setting up the project management office (PMO) for pension projects
Practical: Drafting a project charter for a pension reform initiative

Module 3: Project Planning and Scope Definition
Developing work breakdown structures (WBS) for pension projects
Time, cost, and resource planning
Scope definition and requirements gathering for pension IT systems
Using Gantt charts and scheduling tools for project tracking
Exercise: Creating a project scope statement and schedule baseline

Module 4: Risk Management in Pension Projects
Identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing project risks
Developing risk mitigation and contingency plans
Pension-specific risks: data migration, policy shifts, vendor dependencies
Integrating risk management with project governance and reporting
Workshop: Building a risk register for a pension IT transformation project

Module 5: Financial Management and Budget Control
Budget planning, cost estimation, and financial tracking
Managing project funding and procurement processes
Cost-benefit analysis for pension infrastructure or technology projects
Financial reporting and accountability in public pension projects
Practical: Creating a budget control and variance report

Module 6: Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Management
Identifying key stakeholders: trustees, regulators, IT vendors, members
Designing a communication plan to ensure project transparency
Managing expectations and stakeholder resistance
Techniques for conflict resolution and collaboration
Role-play: Managing stakeholder feedback during project execution

Module 7: Project Execution and Quality Assurance
Coordinating teams, resources, and workflows
Quality management principles in project delivery
Monitoring deliverables and ensuring adherence to pension standards
Managing vendors and contractors effectively
Practical session: Developing a project quality management plan

Module 8: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Project Control
Tracking project progress with KPIs and performance dashboards
Using project management software (MS Project, Asana, Jira)
Earned Value Management (EVM) and variance analysis techniques
Reporting to governance boards and trustees
Simulation: Conducting a mid-project review for a pension system upgrade

Module 9: Change Management and Implementation Transition
Managing organizational change during pension reform projects
Techniques for training, communication, and system adoption
Ensuring continuity of pension services during transitions
Post-implementation support and stabilization planning
Exercise: Drafting a change management roadmap for a pension project

Module 10: Project Closure, Evaluation, and Lessons Learned
Final deliverable acceptance and closure documentation
Conducting project audits and post-implementation reviews
Capturing lessons learned and best practices
Knowledge transfer and institutional learning in pension organizations
Group project: Presenting a complete project closure report