FPM 133: Fundamentals of Business, Cost, and Financial Management Course

Module 1: Building Business Cases

• Define the elements and purpose of a project business case.
• Identify qualitative and quantitative decision factors that support investment justification.
• Develop an initial problem statement, alternatives analysis, and recommendation.
• Explain how the business case supports agency strategic goals and budget requests.

Module 2: Cost Estimating

• Apply common cost estimating techniques (analogy, parametric, bottom-up).
• Develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to organize project costs.
• Document cost assumptions, constraints, and risk factors.
• Validate estimates by comparing with historical data or benchmarks.

Module 3: Federal Budgeting

• Explain the federal budget cycle and how it impacts project funding.
• Identify major appropriation types and their allowable uses.
• Describe the roles of OMB, Congress, and agencies in budget formulation and execution.
• Recognize common funding constraints (e.g., Anti-Deficiency Act, continuing resolutions).

Module 4: Allocating Funds

• Allocate funds across project phases in compliance with appropriation law.
• Develop time-phased spending plans linked to project schedules.
• Identify indicators of potential funding shortfalls or overruns.
• Apply corrective actions when project spending deviates from plan.

Module 5: Performance Measures

• Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) that monitor project health.
• Relate performance metrics to cost, schedule, and technical progress.
• Interpret performance data to assess whether corrective action is needed.
• Communicate results effectively to senior management and stakeholders.

Module 6: Earned Value Management

• Calculate and interpret key EVM metrics (EV, PV, AC, CPI, SPI).
• Assess cost and schedule variances and determine project status.
• Forecast project completion cost using Estimate at Completion (EAC).
• Use EVM data to drive performance-based management decisions.

Module 7: Putting It All Together

• Integrate cost estimation, budgeting, and EVM into a single financial management plan.
• Develop and present a business case supported by quantitative analysis.
• Apply learned techniques to a project scenario through team-based exercises.
• Evaluate the financial health of a sample program and propose improvement actions.