Course Overview
Government entities, giga-project owners and major contractors now run their portfolios on project management information systems such as Oracle Aconex, Primavera Unifier, Primavera P6 and Oracle Fusion Cloud Project Management. Yet many programmes invest heavily in software and still lack reliable information for decisions. The gap is rarely technical; it lies in strategy, governance, ownership and the executive sponsorship that turns a system into an operating model.
PMIS for Executives is a focused half-day briefing for leaders who sponsor, fund or depend on PMIS and PMO transformation. Without software detail, it equips executives to set PMIS strategy, define governance and decision rights, assess digital delivery maturity, specify the executive dashboards they need across Aconex, Unifier, P6 and Fusion, build a credible investment case and sponsor the transformation through to measurable value.
Target Audience
- Chief executives, programme directors and project directors of government and giga-project owners
- Heads of PMO, project controls and digital delivery
- Executives of EPC contractors and consultancies responsible for delivery performance
- Chief information and digital officers supporting capital project portfolios
- Board members and steering committee members who approve PMIS investment
- Senior managers preparing to sponsor a PMIS implementation or PMO transformation
Prerequisites
- No technical or software experience is required
- Executive or senior management responsibility for projects, programmes or a PMO
- Participants are invited to bring one current PMIS or PMO challenge from their organization
Learning Objectives
- Explain the role of an integrated PMIS in delivering capital project and portfolio strategy
- Distinguish the purpose of Aconex, Unifier, P6 and Fusion and how they combine into one information architecture
- Define PMIS governance structures, data ownership and executive decision rights
- Assess the organization's digital delivery maturity and identify the priority gaps
- Specify the executive dashboards and KPIs that should drive portfolio decisions
- Build the elements of a credible PMIS investment case, including costs, benefits and risks
- Set up value realization tracking so that benefits are measured, not assumed
- Define the executive sponsor's role in leading PMO and digital delivery transformation
Detailed Course Outline
1Module 1: PMIS strategy and the integrated ecosystem
- Why capital programmes fail on information, not software
- The Oracle ecosystem in business terms: Aconex for information exchange, Unifier for cost and business processes, P6 for schedule, Fusion for project financials
- Target information architecture and single source of truth
- Aligning PMIS strategy with portfolio and national programme objectives
- Build, buy and phase: strategic choices for PMIS roll-out
2Module 2: Governance, decision rights and digital delivery maturity
- PMIS governance model: steering committee, PMO, system owners and data owners
- Decision rights: who approves configuration, data standards, access and change
- Contractual mandates for owner-controlled platforms
- Digital delivery maturity model and self-assessment
- Common governance failures and how to avoid them
3Module 3: Executive dashboards and decision-making
- What executives need to see: schedule, cost, risk, commitments, cash flow and document status
- Dashboards across Aconex Insights, Unifier Analytics, P6 and Fusion OTBI reporting
- Leading versus lagging indicators and earned value in executive language
- Data quality as an executive responsibility
- Using dashboards in portfolio reviews and steering committees
4Module 4: Investment case, value realization and sponsorship
- Building the PMIS investment case: cost of ownership, benefits and risks
- Value realization plans, benefit owners and measurement
- Sponsoring PMO transformation: people, process and technology
- Change leadership and adoption across owners, consultants and contractors
- Personal 90-day executive action plan
Learning Outcomes
- Articulate a clear PMIS strategy and target information architecture for the organization
- Establish governance and decision rights that keep the PMIS aligned with business priorities
- Know where the organization stands on digital delivery maturity and what to fix first
- Specify the executive dashboards and KPIs the leadership team will use
- Challenge and approve PMIS investment cases with confidence
- Sponsor PMO and digital delivery transformation with a concrete 90-day action plan
Hands-on Workshops & Practical Exercises
Maturity self-assessment
Rate your organization against a digital delivery maturity model and compare results with peers to identify the priority gaps.
Decision rights mapping
Assign accountability for configuration, data standards, access and change across the steering committee, PMO, system owners and contractors.
Executive dashboard specification
Define the one-page portfolio dashboard you would use in your next steering committee, drawing on Aconex, Unifier, P6 and Fusion data.
Investment case challenge
Review a sample PMIS investment case, test its assumptions and agree the benefits and measures you would require before approval.
90-day sponsorship plan
Draft a personal action plan for sponsoring PMIS and PMO transformation in your organization, reviewed with the facilitator.
Duration
Delivered as a single half-day briefing of 3.5 hours in the classroom or executive boardroom, or as one live online session of 3.5 hours.
Delivery Methods
Online
Live, facilitated executive session of 3.5 hours with interactive polling and small-group discussion rooms.
Classroom
Half-day executive briefing at the Academy in Riyadh and regional venues, limited to small peer groups for open discussion.
On-site Corporate Training
Private leadership briefing for your executive team or steering committee, built around your portfolio, current PMIS landscape and transformation priorities.
Assessment Method
- No examination
- Active participation in the facilitated exercises and discussions
- Completion of a personal 90-day executive action plan
- Full attendance
Certificate Awarded
Arkan Academy · Executive
Arkan Executive Certificate: PMIS Leadership
Awarded to executives who attend in full, participate in the exercises and complete their action plan. Carries a unique verification ID and 3.5 recorded learning hours.
ID · ARK-EXE-101-XXXXXX
Career Benefits
- Lead PMIS and digital delivery investments with strategic confidence rather than reliance on vendors
- Strengthen governance and accountability for project information across the portfolio
- Ask the right questions of PMO, project controls and implementation teams
- Demonstrate digital delivery leadership expected in government and giga-project organizations
- Accelerate the return on existing Aconex, Unifier, P6 and Fusion investments
Recommended Next Course
Professional Competencies Achieved
- PMIS strategy and information architectureWorking
- PMIS governance and decision rightsPractitioner
- Digital delivery maturity assessmentWorking
- Executive dashboard and KPI definitionWorking
- Investment case and value realizationWorking
- Transformation sponsorshipPractitioner
Talent Development & Career Opportunities
Organizations whose executives complete this briefing are typically prioritized for PMIS maturity assessments, PMO transformation roadmaps and executive dashboard design engagements.
Participants who achieve an overall assessment score above 90% graduate with Distinction and may be enrolled in the Arkan Talent Development Program.
Outstanding graduates may receive:
- Internship opportunities
- Exposure to PMIS implementation projects
- Mentorship from senior Arkan consultants
- Recommendation letters
- Career guidance sessions
- Candidate referrals to partner organizations through Arkan Talent
- Opportunities to participate in PMIS deployment, PMO setup and digital transformation projects
Disclaimer: Enrolment in the Talent Development Program and any of the opportunities above are not guaranteed and do not constitute an offer or promise of employment. Exceptional performers may be considered for future project opportunities based on business needs, individual performance, availability of suitable roles and client requirements. Referrals and placements remain subject to the selection processes of Arkan and its partner organizations.