PMI-ACP Practice Questions #29
You are starting a new project, and the team is eager to begin development. As an Agile practitioner, how would you ensure effective stakeholder engagement?
A. Start the first iteration with the team and work with stakeholders one-on-one during the iteration to gather feedback.
B. Announce the start of the project and invite all stakeholders to join the first iteration review meeting to provide feedback.
C. Conduct a project kickoff meeting to align all stakeholders and the team on the vision, goals, and approach before starting the iteration.
D. Ensure that stakeholders have reviewed and understood the project charter and Agile approach before starting development.
Analysis
The project is just starting, and the Agile practitioner needs to ensure effective stakeholder engagement. The key consideration is involving stakeholders early to establish alignment on the vision, goals, and approach before development begins. Early engagement helps reduce misunderstandings, set expectations, and facilitate collaboration.
Analysis of Options
A: Start the first iteration with the team and work with stakeholders one-on-one during the iteration to gather feedback.
This approach delays stakeholder involvement until after development has begun, which contradicts Agile principles of early and continuous engagement. Engaging stakeholders one-on-one may also limit shared understanding, as different stakeholders may have varying expectations. While gathering feedback is important, waiting until after the iteration starts is not the best approach.
B: Announce the start of the project and invite all stakeholders to join the first iteration review meeting to provide feedback.
This approach waits until the iteration review to engage stakeholders, which is too late for initial alignment. Agile encourages frequent and early collaboration, and stakeholder engagement should happen before development begins, not just during a review. Relying solely on iteration reviews can lead to misalignment and rework if stakeholders’ expectations are not aligned from the beginning.
C: Conduct a project kickoff meeting to align all stakeholders and the team on the vision, goals, and approach before starting the iteration.
This is the best approach because it ensures that stakeholders and the team start with a common understanding. A kickoff meeting allows for collaborative discussion, ensuring that expectations are clearly defined before development begins. This approach is aligned with Agile principles of early and continuous stakeholder engagement, reducing the risk of misunderstandings later.
D: Ensure that stakeholders have reviewed and understood the project charter and Agile approach before starting development.
While sharing the project charter is useful, it is a passive, document-driven approach rather than an interactive, collaborative engagement. Agile emphasizes face-to-face communication and active involvement rather than simply providing documentation. This approach does not guarantee alignment, as stakeholders may interpret the charter differently.
Conclusion
The best answer is Option C, as it promotes early stakeholder involvement through a kickoff meeting where the team and stakeholders align on vision, goals, and approach. This ensures a shared understanding before development begins, reducing the risk of rework and improving collaboration.
This question maps to early stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and shared understanding, which are critical for successful Agile project execution.
PMI – ACP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
| Leadership | Promote Shared Vision and Purpose |
Topics Covered:
- Ensure early stakeholder engagement before development starts
- Facilitate a project kickoff meeting for shared vision and alignment
- Clarify project goals, expectations, and Agile approach collaboratively
- Promote interactive discussions to build a common understanding
- Encourage continuous collaboration for ongoing stakeholder involvement
- Reduce the risk of misalignment and rework through early communication
- Foster a shared vision and purpose to guide the Agile team
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