PGMP · Question #480
A company CEO meets with key customers to learn how they can be better served. After discovering that some executive team members disagree with each other, the CEO asks the program management office…
The correct answer is C. Conduct stakeholder interviews to address their concerns and expectations. When executive stakeholders disagree on program direction, the program manager should first conduct stakeholder interviews to understand their individual concerns and expectations before establishing a unified program strategy.
Question
A company CEO meets with key customers to learn how they can be better served. After discovering that some executive team members disagree with each other, the CEO asks the program management office (PMO) to develop a program to better serve key customers based on their strategic importance to the company's long-term goals. What should the program manager do to establish and successfully manage the program's direction?
Options
- ACreate a program strategy to obtain the required funding from the portfolio decision team
- BDevelop and foster relationships with stakeholders to improve communication
- CConduct stakeholder interviews to address their concerns and expectations
- DIdentify a list of projects, and then assign them suitable project managers
How the community answered
(58 responses)- A7% (4)
- B10% (6)
- C79% (46)
- D3% (2)
Why each option
When executive stakeholders disagree on program direction, the program manager should first conduct stakeholder interviews to understand their individual concerns and expectations before establishing a unified program strategy.
Creating a strategy to obtain funding is premature when executive stakeholders have not yet aligned on program direction and objectives.
Developing stakeholder relationships is an ongoing activity, but it does not directly address the immediate need to understand and resolve executive disagreements.
Because key executive team members are in disagreement, the program manager must first understand each stakeholder's concerns, expectations, and interests through direct interviews before attempting to define or align the program's direction. This ensures the program strategy addresses real conflicts and builds the consensus needed for sustained organizational support.
Identifying projects and assigning project managers is an execution-level activity that is premature before program direction and stakeholder alignment are established.
Concept tested: Stakeholder interview as first step when executives disagree
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/standard-for-program-management
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