Program Management Professional Practice 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A program manager needs to evaluate the interdependencies between five component projects. The BEST visual tool to use is:
- Work breakdown structure
- Program roadmap with dependency mapping (Correct answer)
- Gantt chart for each project
- Risk register
Correct answer: Program roadmap with dependency mapping
A program roadmap with dependency mapping visually shows how components relate and sequence across the program timeline.
Question 2: A key benefit of a program is expected to be realized three years after program initiation. The program manager should:
- Exclude long-term benefits from the business case
- Track leading indicators that predict future benefit realization throughout the program (Correct answer)
- Wait until year three to begin tracking the benefit
- Assign benefit tracking solely to the operations team
Correct answer: Track leading indicators that predict future benefit realization throughout the program
Leading indicators enable the program manager to monitor benefit trajectory early and take corrective action before it is too late.
Question 3: Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of program governance?
- Approving all change requests from component projects
- Providing oversight, decision authority, and accountability for program outcomes (Correct answer)
- Managing stakeholder communications on behalf of the program manager
- Setting the day-to-day priorities for project teams
Correct answer: Providing oversight, decision authority, and accountability for program outcomes
Program governance exists to provide oversight, ensure accountability, and authorize key decisions that affect program outcomes.
Question 4: A program manager is estimating benefits across multiple component projects. The MOST appropriate approach is to:
- Sum each project's individual ROI estimates
- Aggregate benefits at the program level while accounting for interdependencies (Correct answer)
- Use the highest single project ROI as the program estimate
- Base the estimate solely on historical program data
Correct answer: Aggregate benefits at the program level while accounting for interdependencies
Program-level benefit aggregation accounts for interdependencies that can amplify or reduce individual project benefits when combined.
Question 5: A program manager receives conflicting direction from the program sponsor and a senior stakeholder. What should the program manager do FIRST?
- Follow the senior stakeholder's direction since they outrank others
- Follow the sponsor's direction as they have primary program authority
- Escalate the conflict to the governance board for resolution (Correct answer)
- Document the conflict and continue without acting
Correct answer: Escalate the conflict to the governance board for resolution
Conflicting direction from senior parties requires governance board resolution to prevent ambiguity and protect program integrity.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST represents an output of the program benefits delivery phase?
- Program charter
- Realized incremental benefits delivered to stakeholders (Correct answer)
- Component project charters
- Organizational process assets update
Correct answer: Realized incremental benefits delivered to stakeholders
The benefits delivery phase produces realized incremental benefits that are handed over progressively as components complete.
Question 7: A program manager wants to improve communication among geographically dispersed project teams. The MOST effective strategy is to:
- Require all teams to travel to headquarters monthly
- Establish a communication management plan with defined channels, cadence, and tools (Correct answer)
- Use email as the sole communication method for consistency
- Delegate all inter-team communication to project managers
Correct answer: Establish a communication management plan with defined channels, cadence, and tools
A communication management plan sets clear expectations for channels, frequency, and tools, reducing ambiguity for dispersed teams.
Program Management Professional Practice 5
A program manager needs to evaluate the interdependencies between five component projects.
The BEST visual tool to use is: