AgilePM-Foundation Practice Exam Questions with Answers Agile Project Management (AgilePM) Foundation Exam Certification

Engagement: Defined as the process of increasing employee and stakeholder involvement in organizational change, engagement ensures commitment and minimizes resistance. It is a key responsibility of change managers to foster this involvement, as outlined in AgilePM principles.

Other Options:

Change Agent: Refers to individuals or teams driving the change process, not the process itself.

Sponsor: Represents leadership roles advocating for change but is not a mechanism for involvement.

Line Leader: Plays a supportive role in change but does not define engagement itself.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Employee Engagement: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 3, Section 3.2.

Statement 1: Correct. Rich communication channels, such as face-to-face conversations or video calls, are necessary for active engagement as they allow for two-way interaction and emotional connection.

Statement 2: Correct. Leaner channels, like emails or memos, are appropriate when the message is straightforward and unlikely to be misinterpreted.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Effective Communication Channels: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.

Dissatisfaction with the Status Quo: The change formula includes dissatisfaction as a key driver for change. Without sufficient dissatisfaction, the motivation to change is diminished.

Other Options:

B, C, and D: These factors, while important, are not explicitly part of the Beckhard and Harris change formula.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

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

Instrumental Success Factors (ISFs) in DSDM are crucial as they position projects for a successful outcome. ISFs are the critical elements that must be in place for a DSDM project to succeed. They provide a foundation for effective project management and delivery, ensuring that all necessary conditions are met to support the project's objectives and deliverables.

References:

DSDM Agile Project Framework Handbook

"Agile Project Management with Scrum" by Ken Schwaber

Statement 1: Correct. Diverse teams bring varied perspectives, which enhances creativity and innovation. AgilePM highlights the importance of leveraging diversity for better outcomes.

Statement 2: Correct. Diverse teams approach problems from multiple angles, resulting in more thorough decision-making. However, this often requires additional time to align perspectives.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

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

According to the DSDM principle ‘Never Compromise Quality,’ the overall level of quality to be delivered within the solution should be agreed at the start of the project5. This principle ensures that quality is not compromised to recover from deviations; instead, the scope of the project will be dynamic6.

It is during the Feasibility phase that it is first established whether further investigation of the project is justified3. This phase aims to determine if the proposed project is likely to be feasible from both a technical and business perspective.

When using the Iterative Development technique, each cycle should include Thought, Action, and Control. These components ensure that the development process is systematic and reflective. Thought involves planning and considering the next steps, Action is the implementation of those plans, and Control is the evaluation and adjustment based on feedback and results. This iterative cycle helps in refining the product incrementally and ensures continuous improvement.

References:

AgilePM Foundation Handbook

"The Art of Agile Development" by James Shore and Shane Warden

Focus on Benefits: Highlighting the benefits of the change makes the desired end state more attractive, increasing buy-in and reducing resistance. This aligns with the Beckhard and Harris change formula, where the perceived benefits of change must outweigh the dissatisfaction with the status quo and the cost of change.

Other Options:

B: Burning platforms address urgency but don’t directly enhance desirability.

C and D: These are practical measures but don’t necessarily increase desirability.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

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

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.

Principle 8 - Demonstrate Control requires the transparency of all work being performed by the team5. This principle ensures that plans and progress are visible to all and that progress is measured through the delivery of products rather than completed activities5.

Statement 1: Incorrect. While accountability is important, it should be addressed constructively, not by drawing attention to failures in a punitive way.

Statement 2: Incorrect. Constructive conflict is essential for innovation and problem-solving. Avoiding conflict entirely can lead to unresolved issues and reduced performance.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Team Dynamics and Conflict Management: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 5, Section 5.5.

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.

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.

Phased Approach: Rolling out change one department at a time reflects a phased delivery strategy, which allows for controlled implementation and adjustment before wider deployment.

Other Options:

A: Big Bang involves simultaneous rollout across the organization.

C: Voluntary Adoption allows individuals to opt in.

D: Incremental/Iterative applies to feature or solution delivery rather than departmental rollout.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Delivery Strategies: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 3, Section 3.7.

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.

The Solution Architecture Definition is an evolutionary product that provides a high-level design framework for the solution2. It is intended to cover both business and technical aspects of the solution to a level of detail that makes the scope of the solution clear but does not constrain evolutionary development2. This ensures that the solution architecture supports the business direction and the solution under development will be fit for its intended purpose3

 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.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): KPIs are agreed-upon metrics that measure progress against desired outcomes. These indicators are crucial for tracking the effectiveness of change efforts.

Other Options:

A: Islands of stability refer to elements unaffected by change.

C: Incremental milestones are checkpoints but not specific measures of outcomes.

D: Transition tranches are phases of change implementation.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Outcome Measurement: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 7.5.

The Terms of Reference is identified as a governance product in DSDM because it may be used for purposes such as the prioritization of a project within a portfolio2. It provides a high-level definition of the overarching business driver and top-level objectives of the project.

The DSDM process can indeed be configured and calibrated to cater for a range of projects, from those requiring light governance to those needing stronger governance1. This flexibility allows the DSDM process to be tailored to the specific needs of the project, ensuring that the right balance between control and agility is achieved1.

The role that should ideally be independent of the outcome to be achieved in a Facilitated Workshop is the Workshop Facilitator4. This role manages the processes and dynamics of the workshop and should remain neutral and impartial4.

The DSDM product that reflects the approach to the management of the project as a whole, considering how the project will be organized and planned from a management perspective, is the Management Approach Definition2. This product outlines the overall strategy for managing the project, including aspects such as roles, responsibilities, and processes, ensuring that the project is aligned with its objectives and can be delivered successfully2.

When initially creating MoSCoW priorities in AgilePM, the primary focus is on Timebox priorities. This approach ensures that each Timebox (a fixed period during which specific tasks must be completed) has clear and prioritized objectives. The MoSCoW method (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have this time) helps the team to deliver the most critical features within the given timeframe, thereby optimizing the value delivered in each iteration. This prioritization ensures that essential functionalities are completed first, making the project adaptable and resilient to changes.

References:

AgilePM Foundation Handbook

"Agile Project Management with Scrum" by Ken Schwaber

Statement 1: Correct. Leading by example is crucial for inspiring trust and alignment with the change vision. Symbolic actions by leaders play a significant role in fostering engagement.

Statement 2: Incorrect. Change influence is not limited to leaders; team members and change agents can also drive and inspire change.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Role of Leadership in Change: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.2.