Strategic Planning & Execution Flashcards

A program sponsor wants to add a new strategic objective mid-execution. The program manager should FIRST:

Answer: Assess impact on scope, benefits, cost, schedule, and risk before accepting

Any new strategic objective requires impact assessment across all program dimensions before it can be incorporated or approved.

Which statement BEST describes the relationship between program strategy and program architecture?

Answer: Program architecture translates strategic intent into an organized structure of components and their interrelationships

Program architecture operationalizes strategy by defining how components are organized and related to deliver strategic outcomes.

A program operating in a volatile environment should adopt which planning approach?

Answer: Rolling wave planning with regular strategy reviews

Rolling wave planning allows near-term detail while keeping long-term plans adaptive, which is essential in volatile strategic environments.

The program manager is reviewing the program performance domain and notices benefits are being delivered but stakeholder satisfaction is declining. This MOST likely indicates:

Answer: Benefits are being realized but stakeholder expectations or communication needs are misaligned

Benefits delivery without stakeholder satisfaction often signals a communication or expectation gap, not a fundamental strategic failure.

Which document formally authorizes the program and describes its strategic alignment at the highest level?

Answer: Program charter

The program charter formally authorizes the program and links it to the organizational strategy that justifies its existence.

During strategic planning for a new program, the program manager should engage stakeholders PRIMARILY to:

Answer: Identify expectations, uncover constraints, and build shared understanding of strategic outcomes

Early stakeholder engagement surfaces expectations and constraints that shape strategic planning and build the shared understanding needed for execution success.

A program manager is closing a program. Which action demonstrates that strategic execution was successful?

Answer: Documented evidence that planned benefits have been realized and transitioned to operations

Strategic execution success is evidenced by documented benefits realization and successful transition of those benefits to sustaining operations.