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

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.

Approval to proceed is a critical input for the 'Managing the Tranches' process. Without formal approval, the programme cannot move into tranche delivery phases. The MSP Practitioner specifies: “Without approval to proceed, programme will not enter this process.” This highlights the formal gating and control process essential for structured programme progression.

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.

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

The 'Evaluate new information' process occurs at the end of each tranche (and continuously throughout) to assess whether the programme remains viable and aligned with its objectives. This process involves reviewing performance, risks, and external opportunities that could impact the business case or the target operating model.

In MSP 5th Edition, the Programme Manager is responsible for the setup and day-to-day management of the programme, which includes the analysis of factors that might require a change in direction. Option B is correct because the Programme Manager is tasked with evaluating the impact of such new information—in this case, a new supplier offering a faster, cheaper alternative—on the overall programme plan and the project delivery schedule. The Programme Manager performs the detailed analysis and then presents the findings and recommendations to the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for a final decision. While the SRO is the ultimate decision-maker, the responsibility for the evaluation of technical and management information resides with the Programme Manager. They must determine how this new "imported" solution affects dependencies, costs, and the realization of benefits before the SRO decides whether to pivot the strategy for Tranche 3.

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

In MSP 5th Edition, the Organization Theme defines the roles and responsibilities required to direct, manage, and deliver the programme. The most critical role is the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO). The SRO is ultimately accountable for the programme’s success and must be a senior individual with the authority to ensure the programme meets its objectives and delivers the projected benefits.

The appointment of a Chief Finance Officer (CFO) as the SRO is highly appropriate because the SRO must "own" the Business Case. Since the primary drivers of the Smart Meter Programme are financial (increasing customer numbers and reducing operational costs), the CFO is best positioned to monitor these outcomes. According to MSP, the SRO must provide strategic direction and ensure that the programme remains viable and focused on its benefits. Option A is correct because it highlights the SRO’s responsibility for benefit realization and financial accountability. While technical or industry knowledge (as mentioned in Options C and D) is helpful, the primary requirement for an SRO is the ability to lead the change and be accountable for the investment. The CEO (Option D) is usually part of the Sponsoring Group to whom the SRO reports, rather than being the SRO themselves, to maintain a layer of objective oversight.

The Project Brief is a key document that describes the purpose, cost, time, performance requirements, and constraints of a specific project. It acts as the initial detailed definition of a project within the programme context. The MSP Practitioner states: “Project brief describes purpose, cost, time, performance requirements and constraints of a project,” highlighting its role in defining project scope and parameters, which supports effective project delivery aligned to the programme objectives.

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

The 'Justification' theme in MSP 5th Edition is central to the programme's lifecycle, ensuring that the investment remains desirable, viable, and achievable. It is not simply about choosing the cheapest option; it is about ensuring that the expenditures made are necessary to secure the projected benefits. This is often referred to as the "Value for Money" assessment.

In this case, the use of a specialized external change office is a strategic decision to mitigate the risk of "value leakage"—where benefits are lost because the organization fails to adopt the new ways of working. Option A is the correct answer because MSP 5th Edition explicitly states that the costs of a programme (including specialized support services) must be weighed against the scale of the transformation and the value of the benefits at risk. If the transformation is "significant," as described, the cost of expert change management is often a necessary investment to ensure the Target Operating Model is successfully reached. Option B is incorrect as it describes "contingency" incorrectly; justification is about the primary investment, not just using leftover savings. Option C is a management choice but does not invalidate the justification principle if external expertise is deemed more effective. The justification theme requires the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) to continually validate that the costs of these services are outweighed by the improved likelihood of benefit realization.

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

The Knowledge Theme in MSP 5th Edition emphasizes the importance of managing information effectively to support decision-making and delivery. Information management ensures that data is reliable, accessible, and accurate. When a project team is dealing with "outdated" documentation that fails to reflect "current processes," the fundamental failure lies in the tracking of changes and the identification of the most recent authorized state of the information.

Option D, Version Control, is the specific aspect of information management designed to address this issue. Version control involves identifying different iterations of a document and ensuring that users are working with the correct, most up-to-date version. In a complex programme like UU’s, where processes are evolving across multiple projects and tranches, robust version control is essential to prevent rework and ensure that training materials (and other outputs) are aligned with the actual capabilities being delivered. While Integrity (Option B) is about the accuracy of the data itself, version control is the mechanism that manages the lifecycle of that data and prevents the use of obsolete information. Effective version control ensures that the "current processes" being developed are captured in a way that is visible and verifiable for all dependent projects, such as the Training Project.

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

The Knowledge Theme in MSP 5th Edition covers both explicit knowledge (documented data) and tacit knowledge (experience, insights, and "know-how"). A successful programme must capture tacit knowledge from those who are closest to the operational reality and convert it into a form that can improve the programme’s outputs. This is often achieved through collaborative techniques like workshops.

In this scenario, the Business Change Manager (BCM) is facilitating the transfer of tacit knowledge from the call centre managers to the supplier, Web ’n’ Go. Option A is the correct answer because this application of the knowledge theme ensures that the technical solution (the portal) is informed by real-world operational insights. By understanding common customer problems, the supplier can design features that directly address those pain points, thereby increasing the likelihood of customer adoption and the realization of benefits (such as reduced call volumes). This proactive knowledge sharing is a critical part of the Design Approach within the Knowledge theme, ensuring that what is "built" is fit for purpose. While sharing info with external companies (Option D) requires security protocols, the principle of using operational knowledge to drive design remains a core MSP best practice.