AgilePM-Foundation Questions and Answers

The missing word in the sentence is “Champion”. The Business Sponsor is known as the project Champion because they are committed to the solution and the delivery approach34. This role is crucial as it provides the strategic direction and controls the funding/budget for the project1.

Statement 1: Correct. The change curve describes typical emotional responses to change, including denial, resistance, exploration, and commitment.

Statement 2: Incorrect. The change curve applies to both positive and negative changes, as it reflects the adjustment process regardless of the perceived nature of the change.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Emotional Responses to Change: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.3.

The application of Principle 8, Demonstrate Control, is collectively applied by the whole team4. This principle ensures that there are proper levels of planning, progress measurement, and reporting in place.

Statement 1: Incorrect. Having more data doesn’t guarantee better results; quality and relevance of data matter more.

Statement 2: Correct. External data can provide fresh perspectives and reduce internal biases.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Using Data for Insights: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 7.6.

The MoSCoW technique is used for understanding and managing priorities3. It helps teams prioritize features, user stories, and requirements by categorizing them into Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won’t have, ensuring that the most critical items are addressed first4.

Discovery: The Continuous Change Management Cycle starts with understanding the current situation, challenges, and opportunities. Discovery ensures that subsequent steps are informed and targeted.

Other Options:

A: Ideas come after discovery.

B: Prioritization occurs after potential solutions are identified.

D: Action follows the planning and prioritization phases.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Continuous Change Management Cycle: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.6.

Action Phase: Breaking change actions into smaller, manageable tasks happens during the Action step, where detailed plans are implemented. This ensures smoother execution and tracking of progress.

Other Options:

Discovery: Focuses on understanding the current situation.

Ideas: Involves generating potential solutions.

Prioritization: Helps decide which tasks or changes to focus on.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Continuous Change Management Cycle: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.6.

Active Listening: The change curve requires empathetic and effective communication to understand concerns, address resistance, and guide individuals through emotional responses to change. Active listening is a vital skill in this process.

Other Options:

Time management: Important but not specific to the emotional aspects of change.

Negotiation: Relevant for resolving conflicts but secondary to listening during change.

Decision-making: Necessary for leadership but not for guiding individuals emotionally.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Engagement and Support: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.4.

Statement 1: Correct. Diverse teams leverage different perspectives, leading to higher creativity and innovation, as Agile encourages collaborative solutions.

Statement 2: Incorrect. Diverse teams typically take longer to reach consensus due to varying viewpoints and styles of communication, though the decisions they make are often more robust.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Team Collaboration and Creativity: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 5, Section 5.3.

Statement 1: Incorrect. Non-verbal communication refers to gestures, facial expressions, and body language, which cannot be captured in written form.

Statement 2: Correct. Actions, such as behavior during change or leading by example, can convey powerful messages without verbal communication.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Non-Verbal Communication in Engagement: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 4, Section 4.4.

Qualitative Measures: These provide insight into the underlying reasons, motivations, and emotions behind behaviors. Examples include interviews, open-ended surveys, and focus groups.

Other Options:

B: Quantitative measures focus on numerical data but lack context.

C: Leading indicators predict future performance but don’t explain behavior.

D: Lagging indicators reflect past performance, not the reasons behind it.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Measurement and Analysis: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 7.5.

The Business Visionary is responsible for interpreting the needs of the Business Sponsor and communicating these to the team1. This role represents the Business Sponsor by communicating the vision of the project and ensuring that the team understands the sponsor’s requirements1.

A Timebox Plan is updated at the Daily Start-ups. These daily meetings allow the team to review progress, discuss any issues, and make necessary adjustments to the plan. Regular updates ensure that the project stays on track and that any deviations are addressed promptly, facilitating smooth and efficient progress towards the Timebox objectives.

References:

AgilePM Foundation Handbook

"Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time" by Jeff Sutherland

Timeboxing is the technique that allows for testing the achievability of objectives. This approach involves setting a fixed period (the Timebox) during which specific tasks or objectives must be completed. By focusing on what can be achieved within the set time frame, Timeboxing helps teams test and validate whether their objectives are realistic and attainable. This iterative approach ensures continuous assessment and adaptation, promoting efficient project management.

References:

AgilePM Foundation Handbook

"Agile Project Management with Scrum" by Ken Schwaber

Line Leaders as Key Stakeholders: If line leaders are not fully engaged, they can create barriers to change implementation due to their influence on frontline staff. Providing them with privileged access ensures alignment and reduces resistance.

Other Options:

A: Seniority is irrelevant; engagement depends on roles and influence.

B: Authorization may not always be needed for every change.

C: Information access should be strategic, not indiscriminate.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Engaging Stakeholders: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 5, Section 5.4.

Financial: A measurable increase in sales reflects improved financial performance, making it a financial metric. Financial views in a change delivery scorecard often include profitability, revenue growth, and ROI—all of which are influenced by sales increases.

Customer, Internal, Learning & Growth: These are equally important views but do not directly relate to sales performance. For instance:

Customer View: Focuses on customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Internal View: Addresses process efficiency.

Learning & Growth View: Pertains to employee development and organizational innovation.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Scorecard and Value Metrics: AgilePM Handbook, Section 2.5.3.

Performing Stage: In this stage, team members work cohesively towards achieving results. Roles and processes are clear, and collaboration is at its peak.

Other Stages:

Forming: Initial setup with limited collaboration.

Storming: Characterized by conflict and role clarification.

Adjourning: Focused on disbanding after tasks are completed.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Team Development Models: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 5, Section 5.4.

Feedback and Coaching: Sponsors play a critical role in change, and change managers support them by providing feedback and coaching to help them lead effectively. This builds their confidence and ensures alignment with the change vision.

Other Options:

A: Sponsors should prepare the vision themselves.

B: Sponsors themselves lead commitment-building efforts.

D: Protecting sponsors isn’t an effective strategy; engaging them is key.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Sponsor Engagement: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.2.

Fairness: The SCARF model highlights the importance of perceived fairness in fostering trust and collaboration. Change managers must ensure that processes and decisions are perceived as just and equitable.

Other Options:

B: Faith is not a part of the SCARF model.

C and D: Fear and fight are reactions to stress, not SCARF elements.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

SCARF Model Application in Change: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 5, Section 5.2.

Emotional Process: Transition, as per Bridges’ model, refers to the psychological adjustment individuals go through when adapting to change. It’s not about the change itself but how people internally process the transition.

Other Options:

A and D: These relate to the external processes of implementing change.

C: This overlaps with transition but is incomplete as a definition.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Bridges’ Transition Model: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.3.

 The Delivery Plan defined by DSDM has a planning horizon that includes the end of the project7. This plan looks towards the future, often months or years ahead, to guide the incremental delivery of the project’s outcomes.

Statement 1: Correct. Offering supportive feedback after moments of insight reinforces learning and helps individuals process change more effectively.

Statement 2: Incorrect. While talks from experts may inform, they are less impactful than engaging individuals directly.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Neuroscience in Change Management: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.2.

Communicating the Danger of Inaction: Highlighting risks of not changing amplifies dissatisfaction with the status quo, creating urgency and driving motivation for change.

Other Options:

A: Performance targets align with accountability, not dissatisfaction.

C: Clarifying steps supports action but doesn’t address dissatisfaction.

D: Benefits focus on the positive outcome, not dissatisfaction.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Change Formula Framework: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.5.

 Quality during Evolutionary Development is ensured by continuous verification2. This involves iterative development, where all development processes, including testing, are repeated to ensure the output is complete and able to generate useful feedback2.

In DSDM, it is true that one DSDM role does not necessarily mean one person. This allows for flexibility in assigning roles based on the project’s needs and the individuals’ skills and capacities. It is possible for one person to hold multiple roles or for a role to be shared among several people, depending on what is most effective for the project.