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

The Business Change Manager (BCM) holds the primary responsibility for monitoring the progress of benefits realization against the plan. This role is focused on ensuring that the expected benefits from the programme’s outputs and outcomes are actually realized in the business environment. The BCM works closely with stakeholders, operational managers, and programme teams to track benefit achievement, resolve issues that might impede benefit delivery, and report progress.

According to the MSP Practitioner: “BCM is responsible for monitoring benefits.” This accountability includes validating that the changes introduced by the programme are embedded within business operations and are delivering measurable value as outlined in the Benefits Realization Plan. The BCM must maintain a clear line of sight on benefits, manage dependencies between projects and operational teams, and oversee any transition activities required to sustain benefits.

The Programme Manager and Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) have broader accountability for programme delivery and governance, but it is the BCM who acts as the day-to-day custodian of benefits. They translate strategic benefit objectives into operational terms and ensure the organisation adapts to new ways of working. This ensures that benefits do not remain theoretical but are tangibly realized, measured, and maximized over time.

Effective benefits monitoring by the BCM mitigates the risk of programmes delivering outputs that do not translate into business improvements or strategic value, reinforcing MSP’s emphasis on outcome-focused delivery.

Comprehensive and Detailed 200 to 250 words of Explanation From Exact Extract of project-programme-and-portfolio-management of 5th Edition MSP:

MSP 5th Edition utilizes the "Three Lines of Defence" model for assurance. The First Line of Defence consists of the management controls, reporting, and supervision that occur within the delivery team itself (e.g., project managers and functional departments). These are the day-to-day mechanisms that ensure the work is being done correctly and that progress is being tracked.

Option B is correct because the weekly report from the engineering department is a primary management control. By providing data on installations, the department allows the Programme Board to monitor progress against the delivery schedule. This is a classic "first-line" activity where those responsible for the work report their status upwards. While the data might influence future decisions (Option C), the act of structured reporting for the purpose of oversight and "checking" progress is an assurance activity. Effective assurance ensures that the board has accurate information to verify that the programme’s outputs (the capability) are being delivered as planned. Without this first-line reporting, higher levels of assurance (like audits or peer reviews) would have no data to validate. Therefore, including operational reporting as part of the assurance approach is an appropriate way to ensure transparency and accountability within the programme structure.

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.

Among the options, "Remaining aligned with corporate strategy" is identified as a core MSP programme management principle. The principles underpin the mindset and behaviors needed for successful programmes. Other options, like Quality and assurance management and Leadership and stakeholder management, fall under governance themes or transformational flow rather than principles.

An Emergent programme is characterized by its evolution from a set of concurrent, individual projects that arise independently but require coordination to ensure they align with organizational strategy. The MSP Practitioner defines Emergent programmes as: “Programmes evolved from concurrent, individual projects with need to ensure compliance to organization strategy.” This reflects programmes that may not have been planned from the start as a programme but are brought together to align with strategic goals and provide greater control and coherence.

The POTI (Projects, Operations, Teams, and Infrastructure) model is part of the Blueprint governance theme. It defines the high-level scope and structure of the blueprint, outlining how projects, operational activities, teams, and infrastructure work together to deliver transformation.

The MSP Practitioner confirms: “POTI model defines scope blueprint,” situating it firmly within the Blueprint theme that describes the future state and the means to achieve it.

Understanding POTI helps in mapping and managing the components necessary for successful delivery of programme benefits within the defined future organizational state.

Comprehensive and Detailed 200 to 250 words of Explanation From Exact Extract of project-programme-and-portfolio-management of 5th Edition MSP:

The principle of 'Align with priorities' in MSP 5th Edition dictates that a programme must remain consistent with the strategic direction of the organization, which is often subject to change due to internal or external factors. This principle ensures that the programme continues to deliver value and remains viable throughout its lifecycle. A critical component of this alignment is the Target Operating Model (TOM), which describes the future state of the organization once the programme's outcomes are embedded.

In this scenario, the CFO provides updated financial and market realities suggesting that previous growth targets were unrealistic. By updating the target operating model, the Programme Manager is ensuring that the vision of the "future state" remains realistic and aligned with the revised organizational priorities. According to MSP guidance, the TOM is not a static document created at the start and then shelved; it must be refined as the programme progresses and as the corporate context evolves. Option A is correct because it acknowledges the iterative nature of the TOM. While benefits (Options C and D) will certainly be affected, the question asks about the application of the principle to the TOM update. Ensuring the TOM reflects current strategic reality is a primary way to maintain alignment with organizational priorities, preventing the programme from delivering a future state that the business no longer desires or cannot sustain.

Item of Information

Heading

The improvements in knowledge and opportunities will enhance engineers' self-fulfillment and careers

Key messages

Internal staff will be required to attend an initial company-wide presentation... followed by informal lunchtime sessions... and a monthly newsletter

Communication plan

The sponsoring group will be invited to a workshop to initially brainstorm likely stakeholders, and then the list will be grouped into categories and diagrams

Determining influence and interest

Key messages describe the "what" and "why" tailored to specific groups. The communication plan details the schedule and channels (newsletters, sessions). Categorizing and diagramming stakeholders is the core activity of determining their relative influence and interest.

Comprehensive and Detailed 200 to 250 words of Explanation From Exact Extract of project-programme-and-portfolio-management of 5th Edition MSP:

The Decisions Theme in MSP 5th Edition defines how a programme maintains its integrity and remains aligned with strategic objectives through effective governance. A core part of this theme is the Decision-making Approach, which is a section within the Programme Strategy. This document outlines the levels of authority, the "delegation of power," and the escalation routes for issues and decisions that exceed the programme board's tolerance levels.

In this scenario, the workforce dissatisfaction is a significant issue that could derail the programme's benefits. The Programme Board needs to know if they have the authority to implement their proposals or if the strategic impact requires approval from the Sponsoring Group. Option C is the correct answer because the Decision-making Approach specifies the criteria for escalation. It answers the question: "Who has the authority to make this specific choice?" While the Issue Resolution Approach (Option A) tells you how to handle an issue, the Decision-making Approach tells you at what level the final call must be made. Consulting this document ensures that the programme respects the boundaries between operational management (the Board) and strategic ownership (the Sponsoring Group), thereby maintaining proper governance and accountability as defined in the MSP framework.

Programmes aimed at political and societal change face lower success probability when outcomes are vague or have long-term horizons that are difficult to define and measure. The MSP Practitioner explains: “Vaguely defined outcomes decrease probability of success.” Long-term societal effects are often uncertain and harder to control, thus reducing the clarity needed for successful programme management and delivery.