PGM Strategic Planning and Alignment 4

Question 1

A program sponsor requests accelerating the timeline by six months to capture a market opportunity. The program manager should FIRST:

Accepted Answer

Perform an impact analysis on scope, cost, quality, and risk before committing

Answer

Immediately compress all project schedules

Answer

Decline the request since the original plan was approved

Answer

Ask the PMO to approve the change without analysis

Question 2

In the context of strategic planning, 'portfolio alignment' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Verifying that the collection of programs and projects supports the organization's strategic priorities

Answer

Ensuring all program documents are stored in the same repository

Answer

Aligning all project managers' performance reviews with program schedules

Answer

Making sure all programs use the same project management methodology

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a lagging indicator in program strategic performance measurement?

Accepted Answer

Customer satisfaction scores measured six months post-launch

Answer

Milestone completion rate

Answer

Team velocity in current sprint

Answer

Number of risks identified in the current phase

Question 4

A program manager is facilitating strategic alignment across five component projects. The MOST effective technique is to:

Accepted Answer

Hold integrated planning sessions that connect each component's objectives to the program's strategic outcomes

Answer

Conduct separate strategy reviews with each project manager individually

Answer

Require all project managers to adopt identical planning templates

Answer

Assign a dedicated strategist to each component project

Question 5

When organizational leadership sets an ambitious five-year strategic vision, a program manager's role is to:

Accepted Answer

Translate that vision into a concrete program roadmap with measurable milestones and benefit realization points

Answer

Wait for the PMO to break it down into specific deliverables

Answer

Focus only on the first year since long-term planning is too uncertain

Answer

Assign visioning tasks to senior project managers

Question 6

A program's strategic objective is to increase market share by 15% within three years. The program manager should ensure this is supported by:

Accepted Answer

Specific, measurable program outcomes with defined benefit metrics tied to market share growth

Answer

At least 15 component projects, one for each percentage point

Answer

A vague scope that allows teams creative freedom

Answer

Only financial deliverables to ensure ROI focus

Question 7

A program manager discovers that a completed project delivered all its technical outputs but the anticipated strategic benefits have not materialized. This MOST likely indicates a failure in:

Accepted Answer

Benefits realization management and strategic alignment planning

Answer

Project scheduling

Answer

Technical quality assurance

Answer

Vendor management