PeopleCert MSP-Foundation - MSP Foundation, 5th editionExam

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

This sentence is from the core definition of a programme in the MSP Foundation, 5th Edition. The correct wording is:

“A programme is a temporary structure designed to lead multiple, interrelated projects and other work in order to progressively achieve outcomes of benefit for one or more organizations.”

This highlights that the goal of programmes is not just activity coordination, but delivering benefits. Hence, option B is the correct word.

The MSP principle‘Deploy Diverse Skills’refers to planning and utilizing the right mix of skills, internal and external, to deliver the programme capabilities effectively and at the best pace. This principle emphasizes the need to coordinate various specialist skills to ensure that capability delivery aligns with the achievement of outcomes and benefits.

From MSP Foundation, 5th Edition (Principles section):

“The principle of Deploy Diverse Skills means that programmes should plan and manage the delivery of capabilities in a way that draws on the appropriate skills at the right time, ensuring that outcomes and benefits are realized efficiently and effectively.”

This reflects a strategic approach to resource and skills management across the programme lifecycle.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Programme governance in MSP is about aligning strategic intent with delivery excellence—selecting and executing the “right” programmes in the “right” way. It institutes the leadership, roles, structures, and decision-making protocols needed to ensure programmes support organizational strategy and achieve intended benefits. The MSP framework states its purpose succinctly:

Hence,Bdirectly captures the essence.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

“Accountability” as a success factor in MSP assurance requires that assurance findings and outcomes are reported to governance boards. This ensures transparency and supports effective oversight.

MSP Foundation, 5th Edition defines:

“Accountability means that assurance findings and recommendations are reported through appropriate governance boards to enable corrective action.”

Therefore, D is the correct choice.

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Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The principle “Deal with ambiguity” acknowledges that uncertainty is an inherent part of transformational change. Managing ambiguity involves incorporating uncertainty into planning, especially within documents like the business case.

MSP Foundation, 5th Edition states:

“The programme must recognize and respond to ambiguity by planning for uncertainty and reflecting this in programme controls such as the business case, risk management, and decision-making.”

Therefore, option C is correct.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

In MSP, “lessons learned” refers to knowledge gained during the programme that has been successfully integrated into future ways of working. It is not just knowledge captured, but knowledge applied and embedded.

MSP Foundation, 5th Edition explains:

“A lesson learned is a new understanding that has been embedded into practice to improve future performance.”

Thus, B is correct.

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Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The "Evaluate new information" process is specifically designed to ensure that the programme board and decision-makers are provided with current, accurate, and relevant data in a timely manner. This supports good governance and enables informed decision-making at all stages. According to the MSP Foundation, 5th Edition:

“The purpose of the evaluate new information process is to ensure that the programme board is able to make informed decisions based on reliable and timely information.”

Thus, option C is correct as it aligns precisely with the stated purpose of the process.

The missing word is"benefits". Stakeholder engagement is fundamentally about building and managing relationships to achieve positive benefits for the programme and the organization. It involves exercising influence to align stakeholder interests and secure their support, which ultimately helps in realizing the programme’s intended benefits.

According to MSP Foundation, 5th Edition (Governance Themes – Stakeholder Engagement section):

“Stakeholder engagement is a way of exercising influence and achieving positive benefits through effective management of relationships.”

This highlights the importance of engagement in delivering value and sustaining support throughout the programme lifecycle.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The Programme Brief is developed during the “Identify the Programme” process and includes initial outlines of the programme’s costs, benefits, risks, scope, and intended outcomes.

MSP Foundation, 5th Edition states:

“The programme brief provides an outline of the vision, anticipated benefits, high-level costs, key risks, and scope of the programme.”

Therefore, option B is correct.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The Governance Approach within the programme strategy outlines how the programme will be directed and managed. This includes roles, responsibilities, reporting lines, and the organizational structure required for effective governance.

MSP Foundation, 5th Edition states:

“The governance approach defines the programme’s organization structure, including roles and responsibilities, to support decision-making and control.”

Hence, option C is correct.

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