MSP-FOUNDATION Practice Questions

According to Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), a programme is the primary vehicle for delivering an organization's strategy. The core purpose of a programme is to coordinate a set of related projects and other activities (investments) to deliver outcomes and benefits that are aligned with the organization's strategic objectives. This coordination ensures that multiple, interdependent initiatives collectively achieve a strategic vision that individual projects could not deliver in isolation. Therefore, the need to align numerous investments with strategic goals is a fundamental and common reason for establishing a programme.

A. Maintaining corporate controls is a continuous corporate governance function, not a primary driver for initiating a temporary change programme.

C. Meeting regulatory compliance can be a driver for a programme, but it is a specific instance of a strategic objective, not the overarching common reason itself.

D. This describes a delivery methodology (linear/waterfall). A programme's purpose is strategic alignment, not the prescription of a specific delivery mode.

1. AXELOS. (2020). Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition. TSO (The Stationery Office).

Section 1.2, What is a programme?: "A programme is a temporary and flexible organization that is created to coordinate, direct, and oversee the implementation of a set of related projects and activities in order to deliver outcomes and benefits that are aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives." This directly supports the concept of aligning investments (projects/activities) with strategy.

Section 2.2, MSP principle: Align with strategic objectives: "A programme is an investment by an organization to deliver its strategy... The programme must be aligned with the sponsoring organization’s strategic objectives." This reinforces that the fundamental reason for a programme is to execute strategy.

Figure 1.1, The relationship between corporate strategy, programmes, projects, and business as usual: This diagram visually places programmes as the layer that translates corporate strategy into coordinated projects, illustrating the alignment role.

The MSP principle ‘align with priorities’ requires a programme to be continuously directed and managed in line with evolving organizational strategy. Programmes operate in dynamic environments where priorities can change. The structure of a programme into tranches provides key decision points. At the end of each tranche, the sponsoring group can review progress and new information. Changing the capabilities to be delivered in a subsequent tranche based on this new information is the most direct and practical activity for ensuring the programme remains aligned with the current, most important strategic priorities of the organization.

A. Planning for assurance is a governance activity that provides confidence that the programme is being managed correctly; it verifies alignment rather than being the primary activity to achieve it.

B. Considering the impacts of decisions is a general good management practice applicable to all aspects of a programme, not specifically focused on adapting to strategic priority shifts.

C. The Target Operating Model is a design for the future state. While it must be kept up-to-date to reflect priorities, the active change to the delivery plan (the tranche) is the implementation of this alignment.

1. AXELOS. (2020). Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition. TSO (The Stationery Office).

Section 3.3, 'Align with priorities': "As priorities change, the programme must adapt to remain aligned. The programme’s tranches provide decision points for the sponsoring group to confirm that the programme remains aligned with the organization’s priorities." (This directly supports the link between tranches and aligning with priorities).

Section 6.3.3, 'Plan and control progress': This section details how tranches are used as control points to review the business case and make decisions about the programme's future, including re-scoping work to reflect new priorities. This reinforces that changing tranche content is a key alignment activity.

Section 4.4, 'Assurance': Defines assurance as a function to provide "an independent and objective oversight" to build confidence, which distinguishes it from the adaptive planning activity in option D.

The ‘Bring pace and value’ principle focuses on maintaining momentum and ensuring the programme delivers a steady flow of value. This is achieved by breaking the work into manageable parts, delivering benefits incrementally, and adapting based on experience. Supporting the programme in learning lessons and applying continual improvement is a core activity that enables the team to become more efficient and effective over time, thereby delivering work at the right time (pace) and ensuring its continued relevance (value).

A. This activity is more closely aligned with the ‘Deploy diverse skills’ principle and the ‘Design the target operating model’ governance theme, which focus on ensuring the organization has the necessary long-term capabilities.

B. This is a key activity within the ‘Manage risk and issues’ governance theme and supports the ‘Deal with ambiguity’ principle by providing a framework for making informed decisions under uncertainty.

C. Maintaining a compelling vision is central to the ‘Lead with purpose’ principle, which is about providing clear direction and motivation for the programme, rather than the mechanics of delivery pace.

AXELOS. (2020). Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition. TSO (The Stationery Office).

Section 3.6, 'Bring pace and value': This section explicitly states, "Continual improvement is a key aspect of bringing pace and value." It emphasizes that programmes must be planned and managed to deliver a steady flow of value, which requires learning and adaptation to maintain momentum. (p. 26)

Section 3.2, 'Lead with purpose': This section describes the importance of a compelling vision, directly linking to option C. (p. 22)

Section 3.4, 'Deal with ambiguity': This section discusses navigating uncertainty and making decisions, which aligns with the risk appetite concept in option B. (p. 24)

Section 3.7, 'Deploy diverse skills': This principle covers the need to bring together the right skills and resources, which relates to option A. (p. 27)

The 'Identify the programme' process is the first step in the MSP transformational flow. Its purpose is to take the initial idea (the Programme Mandate) and develop it into a Programme Brief. This brief provides the Sponsoring Group with the necessary information to make an informed decision on whether the proposed programme is sufficiently justified to invest in the more detailed work required during the 'Defining a programme' process. It essentially acts as a filter, ensuring that only viable programmes proceed to the full planning stage.

A. Deliver the capabilities: This process focuses on coordinating and managing the projects that create the programme's outputs. It occurs after the programme has already been planned and approved.

B. Embed the outcomes: This is part of the 'Realizing the benefits' process, which occurs after capabilities have been delivered and focuses on integrating them into business-as-usual operations.

C. Evaluate new information: This is a continuous activity performed throughout the programme lifecycle to manage risks, issues, and changes, not a distinct process for initial justification.

1. AXELOS. (2020). Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition. TSO (The Stationery Office).

Section 11.2, Purpose: "The purpose of the ‘Identify a programme’ process is to provide the Sponsoring Group with the information required to make a decision on whether to invest in the more detailed work of the ‘Defining a programme’ process."

Section 11.4.1, Programme Brief: "The Programme Brief provides the Sponsoring Group with sufficient information to decide whether to approve the start of the ‘Defining a programme’ process." This confirms the role of the process is to justify the investment in planning.

The Programme Manager is responsible for the day-to-day leadership and management of the programme. This role translates the strategic direction set by the Programme Board (Sponsoring Group) into a concrete plan and oversees its execution. The Programme Manager ensures that the programme's projects and change activities are coordinated and integrated to deliver the intended outcomes and benefits, which is the essence of implementing the programme strategy. They are the central point of accountability for the successful delivery of the programme.

A. Programme office: The programme office is a support function responsible for providing standards, tools, and assurance; it facilitates but is not responsible for implementing the strategy.

B. Programme board: The programme board (or Sponsoring Group) is responsible for setting the strategic direction, providing governance, and making key decisions, but not for the day-to-day implementation.

D. Business change manager: The business change manager is responsible for ensuring changes are embedded into the business and that benefits are realized, which is a part of the strategy, but not its overall implementation.

AXELOS, "Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition" (2020).

Section 5.5, Programme manager: This section details the Programme Manager's responsibilities, stating they are "responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme on behalf of the sponsoring group" and for "leading and coordinating the team to deliver the defined outcomes." This directly corresponds to implementing the strategy.

Section 5.4, Sponsoring group (Programme Board): This section clarifies that the Sponsoring Group is "accountable for the programme's success" and provides "direction and leadership," which involves setting and approving the strategy, not implementing it directly.

Section 5.7, Programme office: This section describes the programme office as a "centre of excellence" that provides support, not as a role with implementation responsibility.

The Information approach, referred to as the Information Management Strategy in the official MSP guidance, defines the programme's policies for managing information. This includes its creation, storage, security, and destruction. Crucially, this strategy addresses compliance with relevant legislation, such as data protection and privacy laws (e.g., GDPR). Therefore, it is the primary document that would detail the specific required levels of privacy for the programme's information assets.

B. Delivery approach: This document outlines how the programme's projects and other work will be managed and coordinated, not the specific policies for handling information.

C. Governance approach: This defines the overall control framework, roles, responsibilities, and decision-making structures, but not the detailed requirements for information privacy.

D. Design approach: This describes the future state operating model and the design of the new capability. The design must comply with privacy rules, but this document does not define them.

AXELOS. (2020). Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition. TSO (The Stationery Office).

Section 11.5, Information management strategy: "The information management strategy defines the programme’s approach to managing information... It should cover aspects such as security, confidentiality, integrity, availability, and compliance with relevant legislation (e.g. data protection and privacy laws)." This directly supports that the Information approach/strategy is the correct document for describing privacy levels.

Section 11.2, Governance strategy: This section details the establishment of the control framework, confirming it does not focus on specific information policies like privacy.

Section 11.6, Design strategy: This section explains that the focus is on the future state and blueprint, which would be informed by, but not define, privacy requirements.

The purpose of programme governance is to provide a framework of authority and accountability to direct and control a programme. This framework, overseen by the sponsoring group, ensures that the programme's work is managed effectively, that decision-making is transparent, and that the programme remains focused on creating value and delivering its intended outcomes and benefits. It establishes the structures, roles, and processes necessary for effective oversight and control throughout the programme's lifecycle, ensuring it stays aligned with organizational objectives.

A. This is a description of corporate governance, which operates at the organizational level, not specifically at the programme level.

B. This describes the purpose of portfolio management (selecting the 'right' programmes) combined with programme management (doing them 'correctly'), not programme governance itself.

D. This describes the purpose of risk management. While risk management is a critical component of programme governance, it is not its sole or overarching purpose.

1. AXELOS. (2020). Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition. TSO (The Stationery Office).

Chapter 5, Section 5.1, 'Purpose': "The purpose of the Governance theme is to ensure that the programme has sufficient leadership, authority, and senior management support to direct the change and deliver the desired outcomes and benefits. Programme governance enables the sponsoring group to direct and control the work, ensuring transparency and the creation of value by the programme." This directly supports option C.

2. AXELOS. (2011). Management of Portfolios (MoP). TSO (The Stationery Office).

Chapter 2, Section 2.2, 'What is portfolio management?': This guide defines portfolio management's goal as ensuring an organization invests in the 'right' initiatives and delivers them 'correctly'. This confirms that option B is the definition of portfolio management, not programme governance.

In the Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) framework, a 'landing point' is the specific term for a formal control point at the end of a tranche. A tranche represents a distinct step in the programme that delivers a measurable step-change in capability and allows for benefits to be realized. At this landing point, the Sponsoring Group reviews the programme's progress, the updated Business Case, and the benefits achieved to make a formal decision on whether to continue to the next tranche, re-direct the programme's scope or approach, or close the programme down.

A. a project: A project is a temporary organization that delivers outputs as part of a programme; it is not a control point at the end of a tranche.

C. a programme: A programme is the entire temporary, flexible organization created to coordinate and oversee the implementation of a set of related projects and activities.

D. an incremental progression: This describes the iterative approach of a programme delivering benefits in stages, not a specific control point within the programme lifecycle.

AXELOS. (2020). Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition. TSO (The Stationery Office).

Glossary, page 288: "Landing point: A control point at the end of a tranche at which the sponsoring group can decide to redirect or close the programme."

Section 6.4.3, page 78: "The end of each tranche is a key decision point for the sponsoring group, sometimes referred to as a ‘landing point’. The sponsoring group reviews the updated business case and decides whether to authorize the next tranche, redirect the programme, or close it."

The primary purpose of the ‘plan progressive delivery’ process within the Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) framework is to create the Programme Plan. This plan outlines how the programme will deliver its outcomes and benefits over time. A crucial element of this process is structuring the various projects and other programme activities into a series of manageable stages, known as tranches. Each tranche is designed to deliver a measurable step-change in capability, ensuring that the programme progresses logically towards its final vision.

A. This describes the purpose of the ‘control the programme’ process, which focuses on day-to-day monitoring, issue management, and ensuring the programme remains aligned with its objectives.

C. This is a key purpose of the ‘define the programme’ process, where the programme's vision, justification, and high-level approach are established and communicated.

D. This is the specific purpose of the ‘manage the transition’ process, which focuses on embedding the programme's outputs into business-as-usual (BAU) operations.

AXELOS. (2020). Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition. TSO (The Stationery Office).

Section 11.4, 'Plan progressive delivery': The purpose is stated as "to create the Programme Plan, which details how the programme will be delivered over time. This includes structuring the projects and other work of the programme into tranches to deliver the required capabilities and realize the expected benefits." (This directly supports answer B).

Section 11.7, 'Control the programme': The purpose is "to ensure the programme stays on track to deliver the required outcomes and realize the expected benefits within its agreed-upon constraints." (This confirms why A is incorrect).

Section 11.3, 'Define the programme': The purpose is "to establish a programme with a solid foundation and clear direction." This includes developing the vision statement. (This confirms why C is incorrect).

Section 11.6, 'Manage the transition': The purpose is "to ensure a smooth transition from the programme’s outputs to the new ways of working that are required to achieve the new business-as-usual (BAU) state." (This confirms why D is incorrect).

The 'deal with ambiguity' principle acknowledges that programmes operate in uncertain environments. The 'assurance' theme directly applies this principle by systematically reducing this uncertainty. It achieves this by concentrating its efforts and resources on the areas with the highest levels of risk. This risk-based focus helps to bring clarity and greater certainty to complex situations, enabling programme leadership to make more informed decisions and respond effectively to unexpected changes, which is the essence of managing ambiguity.

A. This describes how the 'assurance' theme applies the 'add value' principle, focusing on the efficiency and timeliness of assurance activities rather than on managing uncertainty.

C. This describes how the 'assurance' theme applies the 'realize measurable benefits' principle, by specifically linking assurance activities to the risks that threaten benefit realization.

D. This describes how the 'assurance' theme applies the 'lead with purpose' principle, by structuring assurance to support leadership decision-making and focus.

AXELOS. (2020). Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 5th Edition. TSO (The Stationery Office).

Correct Answer (B) & Incorrect Options (A, C, D): Section 5.3.3, Table 5.1, "How the assurance theme applies the MSP principles". This table explicitly maps each statement in the question's options to a specific MSP principle as applied by the assurance theme.

For 'Deal with ambiguity': "Assurance applies this principle by focusing resources on the riskiest areas of the programme to bring greater certainty and enable a better response to emerging change." (Matches option B).

For 'Add value': "Assurance applies this principle by scheduling the right assurance activities to occur at the right time to add value and prevent issues that slow delivery." (Matches option A).

For 'Realize measurable benefits': "Assurance applies this principle by focusing on the risks that could affect the achievement of the measurable outcomes of benefit." (Matches option C).

For 'Lead with purpose': "Assurance applies this principle by designing the three lines of defence to support leaders in their decision-making, focusing their attention on the things they can influence." (Matches option D).