PgMP Practice Questions #6
Your program management plan has been approved, and according to the roadmap, you are scheduled to initiate a component project next month. The project business case was prepared and approved one month ago. What is the next step to formally initiate this component project?
A. Allocate resources for the project based on required skills and competencies
B. Seek approval from the Steering Committee to initiate the component project
C. Conduct a kickoff meeting with component stakeholders to align on project objectives
D. Onboard the project team and conduct a team-building activity
Analysis
In this scenario, the program management plan has been approved, and according to the roadmap, a component project is scheduled to be initiated next month. The project business case was prepared and approved one month ago. The question asks for the next step to initiate this component project within the program delivery phase formall. Although a business case approval is in place, formal initiation of a component often requires further authorization to ensure alignment with governance standards.
Analysis of Options
Option A: Allocate resources for the project based on required skills and competencies. Allocating resources is essential for project success, but it is typically a step that occurs after formal approval to initiate the component. Without the formal authorization to begin, allocating resources could be premature. This step would logically follow once initiation approval is granted.
Option B: Seek approval from the Steering Committee to initiate the component project. Seeking formal approval from the Steering Committee (or relevant governance authority) is a key step in initiating a component project, especially in a structured program environment. While the business case was approved, the initiation of the component project often requires additional authorization to ensure alignment with program objectives and to authorize the project formally. This step ensures that the project is fully recognized within the program governance framework. According to the Program Management Standard (Fifth Edition), page 116, program component initiation requires governance-level approval to proceed. This makes Option B the most appropriate choice.
Option C: Conduct a kickoff meeting with component stakeholders to align on project objectives. A kickoff meeting is an important activity for aligning on project objectives and setting the tone for the project. However, it typically follows the formal authorization of the component’s initiation. Without formal approval, conducting a kickoff meeting may be premature.
Option D: Onboard the project team and conduct a team-building activity. Onboarding the team and conducting a team-building activity are valuable steps for project cohesion but are generally done after formal project initiation and resource allocation. This option does not address the formal approval needed to start the component.
Conclusion
The most appropriate answer is Option B: Seek approval from the Steering Committee to initiate the component project. Although the business case has been approved, formal initiation of the component project within a program context requires authorization from a governance authority, as outlined in the Program Management Standard (Fifth Edition). This step ensures the project is fully authorized and aligned with program governance before resource allocation, kickoff meetings, or team onboarding begin.
PgMP Certification Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| Governance | Task 3: Obtain authorization(s) and approval(s) through stage gate reviews by presenting the program status to governance authorities to proceed to the next phase of the program. |
Topics Covered
- Program Component Initiation
- Program Governance and Authorization
- Approval Processes for Program Components
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