Program Management Professional Program Management Professional MCQ 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A program manager is about to transition the program to a steady-state operation. Which document best guides this transition?
- Program communications plan
- Benefits transition plan (Correct answer)
- Program risk register
- Component project charters
Correct answer: Benefits transition plan
The benefits transition plan defines how realized benefits will be maintained and sustained by the receiving organization after program closure.
Question 2: In program management, what is the purpose of a 'phase gate review'?
- To review the individual performance of program team members
- To assess whether the program should continue, be modified, or be terminated before moving to the next phase (Correct answer)
- To formally approve the program budget for the upcoming phase
- To audit compliance with procurement contracts
Correct answer: To assess whether the program should continue, be modified, or be terminated before moving to the next phase
Phase gate reviews assess program health and strategic alignment to determine whether continuation, adjustment, or termination is warranted.
Question 3: What is the PRIMARY difference between program risks and project risks?
- Program risks are always financial; project risks are always schedule-related
- Program risks span multiple components and can affect overall benefit realization; project risks are localized to a single project (Correct answer)
- Program risks are managed by the governance board; project risks are ignored
- Program risks occur only during program closure
Correct answer: Program risks span multiple components and can affect overall benefit realization; project risks are localized to a single project
Program risks can affect multiple components and the overall benefits picture, whereas project risks are confined to a single project's scope.
Question 4: A program manager needs to communicate a complex dependency between three components to senior executives. Which format is MOST effective?
- A detailed Gantt chart with all tasks listed
- A high-level visual roadmap or dependency diagram tailored to executive audiences (Correct answer)
- A full risk register export
- A written memo with technical terminology
Correct answer: A high-level visual roadmap or dependency diagram tailored to executive audiences
Executives need concise, high-level visuals that communicate dependencies without granular technical detail.
Question 5: Which program life cycle phase involves defining the program's business case and securing executive sponsorship?
- Program delivery
- Program closure
- Benefits sustainment
- Program formulation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Program formulation
Program formulation (or program definition) is where the business case is developed and executive sponsorship is obtained.
Question 6: A program's earned value analysis shows a Schedule Performance Index (SPI) of 0.78. What does this indicate?
- The program is ahead of schedule
- The program is over budget
- The program is behind schedule — only 78 cents of work is complete for every dollar planned (Correct answer)
- The program's cost performance is acceptable
Correct answer: The program is behind schedule — only 78 cents of work is complete for every dollar planned
An SPI below 1.0 means the program is progressing slower than planned; 0.78 indicates significant schedule slippage.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a sustaining benefit after program closure?
- Submitting the final program status report
- Operational cost savings maintained by the receiving business unit year over year (Correct answer)
- Completing the final component project on time
- Releasing the program team back to the resource pool
Correct answer: Operational cost savings maintained by the receiving business unit year over year
Sustaining benefits are ongoing advantages, like recurring cost savings, that persist in the operational environment after the program ends.
Program Management Professional Program Management Professional MCQ 5
A program manager is about to transition the program to a steady-state operation.
Which document best guides this transition?