Which describes the relationship between business as usual and portfolio management?

Question

Options

• AChange the business, run the portfolio
• BRun the business, change the business
• CChange the business, change the portfolio
• DRun the business, run the portfolio

• A
  4% (2)
• B
  87% (47)
• C
  7% (4)
• D
  2% (1)

Explanation

Business as usual (BAU) is about maintaining existing operations - keeping the lights on - which maps to "run the business." Portfolio management is about selecting and overseeing strategic initiatives (projects and programs) that deliver organizational change, which maps to "change the business." Together, BAU runs the business while the portfolio changes it, making B correct.

Why the distractors fail:

• A inverts the pairing - BAU runs (not changes) the business, and portfolios are changed/managed, not "run" in the operational sense.
• C is wrong because BAU does not change the business; it sustains current operations.
• D is wrong because portfolio management is not an operational "run" function - it drives strategic transformation, not steady-state continuity.

Memory tip: Think of the acronym BAU = "Business As Usual" - usual means nothing changes, so BAU = run. A portfolio is a collection of change initiatives, so portfolio = change. Run → Change. Option B.

No community discussion yet for this question.