PeopleCert MSP-Practitioner - MSP Practitioner, 5th edition Exam

The probability of success is higher when programme requirements are well-defined and clearly understood. MSP Practitioner states:“Probability is high when requirements are well defined and clearly understood. Clear specifications of output increases the probability of success.”Process changes affecting technology and structures typically have clearer specifications and boundaries, making successful delivery more likely compared to changes driven by complex behaviors or historical practices.

Gateway reviews are not part of delivering the capability but are governance checkpoints that occur at specific programme milestones, including the beginning of the programme, key decision points, and closure.

The MSP Practitioner explains:“Gateway reviews happen at beginning of programme, Key decision points of programme and closure of programme.”These reviews are formal assessments to validate readiness, progress, and compliance with governance before major transitions, tranche approvals, or programme closure.

Delivering the capability primarily involves initiating projects, managing their delivery under governance frameworks, and ensuring alignment between project outputs and benefit realization. Governance during delivery includes managing risks, issues, and quality controls to ensure outputs are produced to specification.

Gateway reviews are designed to provide independent assurance and decision points but are external to the ongoing activities of capability delivery. Recognizing this distinction helps maintain clarity of roles and processes within programme management, ensuring focused effort on delivery while maintaining appropriate oversight.

The Benefits Map is typically created during the 'Defining a Programme' phase of the transformational flow. This map visually links programme outputs to expected benefits and outcomes, providing a clear picture of how the programme’s work will realize its intended value.

The MSP Practitioner explains:“Benefits are identified and analyzed in Defining a programme,”which highlights that the Benefits Map is a key planning tool used to understand dependencies, confirm benefit ownership, and ensure alignment with strategic objectives before detailed delivery begins.

Creating the Benefits Map at this stage supports informed decision-making and prioritization, as well as effective communication with stakeholders about how change initiatives contribute to strategic goals. It also serves as a baseline for benefits realization planning and tracking throughout programme delivery.

By defining and mapping benefits early, the programme can mitigate risks of misalignment or overlooked benefits, thereby improving chances of successful transformation and measurable value creation.

A Vision Statement is a succinct and compelling description of the desirable future state that the programme aims to achieve. It serves to inspire and align stakeholders around the intended outcomes and benefits. The MSP Practitioner outlines key characteristics of a Vision Statement, including that it must describe a desirable future and be concise to ensure clarity and focus.

Key benefits are often implicit within the Vision, providing a motivational overview without delving into detailed measurement or timelines.

However, the Vision Statement is NOT normally time-dependent. Time frames and milestones are introduced later in the programme planning stages, such as in the Business Case or Programme Plan. The MSP Practitioner explains:“Vision statement does not include time frames until programme is time bound in nature,”which means the Vision is more about 'what' will be achieved rather than 'when.'

This approach allows the Vision to remain stable even if timeframes or specific project plans evolve. The focus remains on the transformational goal, providing a constant reference point as the programme adapts to challenges and changes.

Therefore, including time-dependence in the Vision Statement could unnecessarily constrain the programme’s strategic focus or create misalignment if schedules shift.

The Programme Manager holds responsibility for ensuring that individual projects align with the overarching programme objectives during capability delivery. This role coordinates the interdependencies, monitors progress, and manages risks to ensure projects collectively deliver the intended outcomes.

The MSP Practitioner notes:“Programme manager is responsible for all tasks in delivering the capability. This is a continual activity throughout the programme.”This alignment ensures that outputs contribute directly to the transformational goals and benefit realization plan, avoiding scope creep or misaligned efforts.

While the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) provides strategic accountability and the Business Change Manager (BCM) focuses on benefits realization, the Programme Manager operationalizes these objectives through effective project oversight and control.

The Programme Office supports through administrative and coordination activities but does not have direct accountability for strategic alignment of projects.

Maintaining this alignment is critical for delivering business value and achieving programme success in complex transformational environments.

A key attribute for the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) is having access to and credibility with key stakeholders because the SRO plays a pivotal role in stakeholder management and programme accountability. The MSP Practitioner notes,"This attribute is necessary as SRO is also involved in stakeholder management,"emphasizing that SRO’s influence and stakeholder credibility are critical to programme success.

Transformational Flow in MSP defines the route a programme follows through its lifecycle—from initial conception, through delivery of new capabilities, transitioning to desired outcomes, realizing benefits, and finally closing the programme. It guides the programme’s progression through each phase to ensure the transformation is successful. This concept is central to MSP's approach to managing transformational change and is explicitly described as providing the route through the lifecycle of a programme, from conception to delivering new capability.

One key output of the 'Identifying the Programme' process is the appointment of the Programme Board and the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO). This formalizes the governance structure needed to provide leadership and oversight for the programme. The MSP Practitioner clearly states:“Programme board is set up by SRO in this process,”highlighting that governance is established early to ensure accountability and decision-making capability is in place before the programme progresses further.

Programme management is defined in MSP as“the action of carrying out coordinated organization, direction and implementation of project dossier and transformation activities to realize benefits of strategic importance.”This definition underscores the holistic and strategic nature of programme management, integrating multiple projects and transformational efforts to deliver outcomes that align with organizational strategy.

The MSP Practitioner emphasizes the coordinated nature of programme management that differentiates it from project or portfolio management, focusing on realization of benefits through strategic change delivery.

This definition encapsulates the complexity and scope of programme management, ensuring delivery is both controlled and aligned to strategic goals.

The Business Change Manager (BCM) reviews the Business Case to confirm that the plans for benefits realization are sound and achievable. The BCM ensures that the expected benefits are realistic, measurable, and aligned with the organization's strategic objectives.

The MSP Practitioner states:“BCMs will review it to confirm that benefit realizations have been handled correctly.”This review helps identify risks or gaps in benefit planning early, enabling corrective actions before programme progression.

While the SRO approves the Business Case and the Programme Manager produces it, the BCM’s critical role is to validate the benefits-related aspects, ensuring the programme can deliver its expected value effectively and sustainably.