Program Management Professional (PgMP) Study Guide & Practice Exam Tests

Introduction to the Study Guide

Task 1: Perform an initial program assessment by defining the program objectives, requirements, and risks to ensure program alignment with the organization’s strategic plan and objectives.

Task 2: Establish a high-level road map with milestones and preliminary estimates to obtain initial validation and approval from the executive sponsor.

Task 3: Define the high-level road map and financial framework to set a baseline for program definition, planning, and execution.

Task 4: Define the program mission statement by evaluating the stakeholders’ concerns and expectations to establish program direction.

Task 5: Evaluate the program’s business case to develop, validate, and assess the program objectives, priority, feasibility, readiness, and alignment with the organization’s strategic plan.

Task 6: Analyze the available information about organizational and business strategies.

Task 7: Estimate the high-level financial framework and nonfinancial benefits of the program to obtain/maintain funding authorization and drive prioritization of projects within the program.

Task 8: Evaluate program objectives relative to regulatory and legal constraints, social impacts, sustainability, cultural considerations, political climate, and ethical concerns to ensure stakeholder alignment and program deliverability.

Task 9: Obtain organizational leadership approval for the program by presenting the program charter with its high-level costs, milestone schedule, and benefits to receive authorization to initiate the program.

Task 10: Identify and evaluate integration opportunities and needs within program activities and operational activities.

Task 11: Exploit strategic opportunities for change to maximize the realization of benefits.

Task 1: Develop the program charter consisting of the program scope, assumptions, constraints and high-level benefits that tie the program to the business case.

Task 2: Translate strategic objectives into high-level program scope statements by negotiating with stakeholders, including sponsors/steering committee, to create a program scope description.

Task 3: Develop a program roadmap using the goals and objectives of the program to align the program with the strategy, and manage the expectations of stakeholders, including sponsors/steering committee.

Task 4: Develop a responsibility assignment matrix by identifying and assigning program roles and responsibilities to build the program management core team and differentiate between the program and project resources.

Task 5: Define standard measurement criteria, including key performance indicators, for success and review points for all constituent projects/components.

Task 6: Conduct program kick-off with key stakeholders by holding meetings to familiarize the organization with the program and obtain stakeholder buy-in.

Task 7: Develop a detailed program scope statement by incorporating the program vision and all internal and external objectives, goals, influences, and variables to facilitate overall planning.

Task 8: Develop program WBS to determine, plan, and assign the program tasks and deliverables.

Task 9: Establish the program management plan and schedule by integrating plans for constituent projects/components and creating plans for supporting program functions.

Task 10: Optimize the program management plan by identifying, reviewing, and leveling resource requirements to gain efficiencies and maximize productivity/synergies among constituent projects/components.

Task 11: Define project/program management information system (PMIS) by selecting tools and processes to share knowledge, intellectual property, and documentation across constituent projects/components.

Task 12: Identify and manage unresolved project-level issues by establishing a monitoring and escalation mechanism.

Task 13: Develop the benefits management plan including benefits integration, transition, and sustainment.

Task 14: Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) by using decomposition/mapping to manage the program and implement a scope and quality management system within the program.

Task 15: Monitor human resources for program and project roles, including subcontractors, and identify opportunities to improve team motivation.

Task 16: Charter and initiate constituent projects/components by assigning project managers and allocating appropriate resources to achieve program objectives.

Task 17: Establish consistency by deploying governance framework, uniform standards, resources, infrastructure, tools, and processes to enable informed program decision-making.

Task 18: Establish a communication feedback plan and reporting process to capture lessons learned and the team’s experiences throughout the program.

Task 19: Lead human resource functions by training, coaching, mentoring, and recognizing the team to improve team engagement and achieve commitment to the program’s goals.

Task 20: Review project managers’ performance in executing the project per the project plan to maximize their contribution to achieving program goals.

Task 21: Execute the appropriate program management plans using the tools identified in the planning phase.

Task 22: Consolidate project and program data using predefined program plan reporting tools and methods to monitor the program performance and communicate to stakeholders.

Task 23: Evaluate the program’s status to monitor and control the program while maintaining current program information.

Task 24: Approve closure of constituent projects/components upon completion of defined deliverables to ensure scope is compliant with the functional overview.

Task 25: Analyze variances and trends in costs, schedule, quality, and risks by comparing actual and forecast to planned values to identify corrective actions or opportunities.

Task 26: Update program plans by incorporating corrective actions to ensure program resources are employed effectively to meet program objectives and deliver program benefits.

Task 27: Manage program-level issues by identifying and selecting a course of action consistent with program scope, constraints, and objectives to achieve program benefits.

Task 28: Manage changes per the change management plan to control scope, quality, schedule, cost, contracts, risks, and rewards to achieve program benefits.

Task 29: Conduct impact assessments for program changes and recommend decisions to obtain approval per the governance framework.

Task 30: Manage risk per the risk management plan to ensure benefits realization.

Task 31: Complete a program performance analysis report by comparing actual values to planned values for scope, quality, cost, schedule, and resource data to determine program performance.

Task 32: Conduct program closure within the boundaries of the governance framework.

Task 33: Execute the transition and close-out of the program and all constituent projects and/ or components to transition program benefits.

Task 34: Conduct the post-review meetings by presenting the program performance reports to obtain feedback and capture lessons learned.

Task 35: Report lessons learned and best practices observed and archive to the knowledge repository to support future programs and organizational improvement.

Task 1: Develop the benefits realization plan and its measurement criteria to set the baseline for the program and communicate to stakeholders, including sponsors /steering committee.

Task 2: Identify and capture synergies and efficiencies identified throughout the program life cycle to update the benefits realization plan to stakeholders.

Task 3: Develop a sustainment plan that identifies the processes, measures, metrics, and tools necessary for the management of benefits beyond the completion of the program to ensure the continued realization of intended benefits.

Task 4: Monitor the metrics to take corrective actions in the program and maintain and/or potentially improve benefits realization.

Task 5: Verify that the close, transition, and integration of constituent projects /components.

Task 6: Maintain benefits register and record program progress to report the benefit to stakeholders via the communications plan.

Task 7: Analyze and update the benefits realization and sustainment plans for uncertainty, risk identification, risk mitigation, and risk opportunity.

Task 8: Develop a transition plan to operations to guarantee the sustainment of products and benefits delivered by the program.

Task 1: Identify stakeholders, including sponsors/steering committee, and create the stakeholder matrix to document their position relative to the program.

Task 2: Perform stakeholder analysis through historical analysis, personal experience, interviews, knowledge base, review of formal agreements, and input from other sources to create the stakeholder engagement plan.

Task 3: Negotiate the support of stakeholders, including sponsors/steering committee, for the program while setting clear expectations and acceptance criteria.

Task 4: Generate and maintain visibility for the program and confirm stakeholder support to achieve the program’s strategic objectives.

Task 5: Define and maintain communications adapted to different stakeholders, including sponsors/steering committee, to ensure their support for the program.

Task 6: Evaluate risks identified by stakeholders, including sponsors/steering committee, and incorporate them in the program risk management plan, as necessary.

Task 7: Develop and foster relationships with stakeholders, including sponsors/steering committee, to improve communication and enhance their support for the program.

Task 1: Develop program and project management standards and structure using industry best practices.

Task 2: Select a governance framework structure including policies, procedures, and standards that conforms program practices with the organization’s governance structure.

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.

Task 4: Evaluate key performance indicators to monitor benefits throughout the program life cycle.

Task 5: Develop and/or utilize the program management information system), and integrate different processes.

Task 6: Regularly evaluate new and existing risks that impact strategic objectives to present an updated risk management plan to the governance board for approval.

Task 7: Establish escalation policies and procedures to ensure risks are handled at the appropriate level.

Task 8: Develop and/or contribute to an information repository containing program-related lessons learned and processes.

Task 9: Identify and apply lessons learned to support and influence existing and future programs or organizational improvement.

Task 10: Monitor the business environment, program functionality requirements, and benefits realization to ensure the program remains aligned with strategic objectives.

Task 11: Develop and support the program integration management plan to ensure operational alignment with program strategic objectives.

Program Management Professional (PgMP) Study Guide & Practice Exam Tests

Study Guide Content

Introduction

Study Guide Includes