AgilePM-Foundation Agile Project Management (AgilePM) Foundation Exam Questions and Answers

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.

Encourages Users: Change management focuses on equipping people to adopt and use new ways of working effectively, which maximizes the realization of benefits.

Other Options:

B: Avoiding dis-benefits is part of risk management.

C: Accountability lies with the sponsor, not change management alone.

D: Change management supports outcomes but doesn’t directly produce them.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Role of Change Management in Benefits Realization: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 7.4.

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.

Timeboxing: Fixed time periods, such as sprints, are used to focus efforts and deliver outcomes within a predefined timeframe. This helps teams remain disciplined and maintain momentum while working iteratively.

Other Options:

A: Minimum viable product relates to the initial version of a product with essential features.

C: Full transparency refers to visibility into the process.

D: Frequent delivery is broader and does not imply fixed time periods.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Timeboxing: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 3, Section 3.4.

Certainty in Neuroscience: The brain seeks predictability and stability, which is supported by delivering change in small, incremental stages. This approach aligns with Agile's iterative and incremental delivery, providing clarity and reducing stress for individuals undergoing change.

Other Options:

B: Delegated decision-making relates to empowerment but does not directly address certainty.

C: Group social events foster connection, not certainty.

D: Public praise boosts morale but doesn’t satisfy the need for predictability.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Iterative and Incremental Delivery: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 3, Section 3.6.

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

Solution increments are created during the Evolutionary Development phase. This phase is where the solution is developed iteratively, building on the firm foundations laid out in the previous phases1. It involves creating increments of the product through time-boxed iterations, ensuring that the solution evolves in line with the project’s objectives and business needs.

The purpose of the Foundations Summary in AgilePM is to provide enough information to decide whether the project is likely to deliver a return on investment. This document serves as a comprehensive overview of the project's viability, including a high-level understanding of the business case, objectives, scope, and risks. It ensures that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the project's potential value and feasibility before significant resources are committed.

References:

AgilePM Foundation Handbook

"Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products" by Jim Highsmith

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.

DSDM acknowledges that change is inevitable and that projects operate within a changing world5. The methodology is designed to embrace change and harness its benefits, rather than resist it.

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.

 A baseline of the Evolving Solution should be put into operational use during the Deployment phase7. This phase is when the latest increment of the product is put into live use, marking the transition from development to real-world operation.

Supporting and Influencing Local Staff: Line leaders play a vital role in translating the change vision into action at the team level. They understand the specific needs and concerns of their teams and can act as a bridge between staff and senior management.

Other Options:

A: Local decision-making authority is beneficial but not their primary role.

B: Leaders are often deeply impacted by change.

D: Line leaders often juggle multiple responsibilities.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Role of Line Leaders: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 5, Section 5.6.

Statement 1: Incorrect. Communication plans should be tailored to the specific context of each change initiative, as a one-size-fits-all approach does not work.

Statement 2: Correct. The scale and complexity of change will dictate the content and level of detail in the communication plan.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Tailored Communication Plans: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.

Referent Power: This form of power is derived from the personal qualities of the leader, such as charisma, integrity, or ability to inspire, making them a role model for others. AgilePM values leaders who lead by influence rather than authority.

Other Options:

Legitimate: Based on a formal position or title.

Reward: Tied to the ability to offer incentives.

Coercive: Involves using fear or threats, which is not ideal in Agile environments.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Leadership Styles: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 4, Section 4.5.

Simple: The Cynefin framework classifies situations where cause and effect are obvious as "simple," requiring straightforward solutions based on best practices.

Other Options:

Multifaceted: Not a recognized category in Cynefin.

Complex: Refers to situations where cause and effect are not immediately apparent.

Chaotic: Refers to situations with no apparent relationship between cause and effect.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Cynefin Framework for Complexity: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 3, Section 3.3.

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.

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 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.

Storming Stage: During this stage, team members test and challenge assumptions, roles, and processes. This is essential for resolving conflicts and building stronger foundations for collaboration.

Other Stages:

Forming: Initial stage with minimal conflict.

Performing: High-functioning stage with clear roles.

Adjourning: Focuses on reflection and closure.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

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

Productivity Dip: A temporary drop in productivity is common when employees are being trained on new processes or systems. This cost is critical to account for in planning and managing change effectively.

Other Options:

Safety & Wellbeing: Relates to physical and emotional health, not productivity.

Reputational: Refers to external perception of the organization.

Opportunity: Refers to lost potential from alternative courses of action.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Assessing Change Impact: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 7.3.

Minimum Viable Product (MVP): An MVP allows early customers to use a product and provide valuable feedback, which is then incorporated into subsequent iterations. This is central to Agile practices, emphasizing incremental delivery and responsiveness to user needs.

Other Options:

B: Full transparency relates to visibility into processes and progress, not product development.

C and D: These refer to team dynamics, not product delivery.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

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

Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose: As outlined by Daniel Pink, these three factors drive motivation in knowledge work, which relies on creativity and engagement. Agile practices support autonomy through self-organizing teams, mastery through continuous learning, and purpose through shared goals.

Other Options: These reflect traditional or outdated models of motivation and do not align with Pink’s framework.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Motivating Teams: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 5, Section 5.7.

Within the Solution Development team, it is not required for all members to be multi-skilled experts1. While a diverse set of skills is beneficial, DSDM emphasizes collaboration and the effective use of individual strengths rather than expecting every team member to be an expert in all areas1.

Cognitive Rigidity: This represents a fixed mindset, where individuals resist new ways of thinking or acting. Neuroscience highlights that flexibility is key to adapting to change.

Other Options:

A: Routine seeking reflects comfort in familiarity but isn’t a fixed mindset.

B: Emotional reactions are part of normal responses to change.

D: Short-term focus relates to decision-making, not fixed thinking.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Managing Resistance Through Neuroscience: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.7.

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

A Facilitated Workshop provides an interactive environment where all key players can contribute to the outcome3. It is a practice within Agile and DSDM that encourages collaboration and active participation from all stakeholders to shape the project’s direction and solutions.