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

Maintenance is not one of the interest groups into which each DSDM role is grouped1. The recognized interest groups are Business, Solution/Technical, and Management1. These groups represent the different areas of focus within a DSDM project.

In DSDM, each role is grouped into interests such as Business, Solution/Technical, and Management. Maintenance is not one of the interests into which DSDM roles are grouped. The primary focus of DSDM roles is to ensure that the project is delivered successfully by balancing business needs, technical feasibility, and effective management practices.

References:

DSDM Agile Project Framework Handbook

"Agile Project Management: Best Practices and Methodologies" by Eric Brechner

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Other Options: These reflect traditional or outdated models of motivation and do not align with Pink’s framework.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

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.

 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.

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.

Statement 1: Incorrect. Agile is rooted in adaptability and tailoring practices to fit the specific needs of a project. Taking a single framework and applying it persistently reflects rigidity, which contradicts the Agile principles of flexibility and continuous improvement. AgilePM advocates selecting and combining frameworks (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) based on the project environment rather than sticking to one rigidly.

Statement 2: Correct. Resilience, flexibility, and a willingness to learn are central to Agile practitioners. They must adapt to challenges and new information to ensure continuous delivery of value. This aligns with Agile values of embracing change over following strict plans and the AgilePM philosophy of iterative improvement.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Flexibility over Rigidity: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 1, Section 1.4 ("The Agile Mindset").

Iterative Development and Learning: Chapter 3, Section 3.5 (Iterative Principles).

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

The Post-Project phase in AgilePM is crucial for evaluating the project’s success in terms of the business benefits realized3. It is conducted after the project is completed and focuses on assessing whether the expected benefits outlined at the start of the project have been achieved

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

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.

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.

Statement 1: Correct. Identifying stakeholders involves analyzing who will be impacted by the change and their level of influence.

Statement 2: Correct. Stakeholder mapping is a tool used to visualize and prioritize stakeholders based on their influence and interest.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Stakeholder Mapping and Identification: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 5, Section 5.5.

Transparency: Sharing the rationale and timeline for change ensures openness and builds trust among stakeholders. Transparency is fundamental to managing expectations and mitigating resistance.

Other Options:

Inclusivity: Focuses on ensuring all voices are heard.

Connectivity: Refers to fostering relationships.

Empathy: Relates to understanding others’ feelings, not information sharing.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Transparent Communication: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 4, Section 4.2.

Principle 1 – Focus on the Business Need suggests that every decision taken during a project should be viewed in light of the overriding project goal. This principle ensures that all decisions align with the main objective of delivering what the business needs, thus maintaining a clear focus on achieving the project’s goals.

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 purpose of the Consolidation phase in a structured Timebox is to tie up any loose ends related to Evolutionary Development. This phase involves finalizing all outstanding work, ensuring that the deliverables meet the required quality standards, and preparing the product for acceptance and deployment. It is a critical phase for addressing any minor issues that may have arisen during development and ensuring that the Timebox objectives have been fully achieved.

References:

DSDM Agile Project Framework Handbook

"Agile Project Management: Best Practices and Methodologies" by Eric Brechner

Celebrating Short-Term Wins: Demonstrating early achievements builds confidence and reduces resistance by showing tangible progress. This is a key step in Kotter's model for leading change.

Other Options:

A: Building a coalition involves leadership but not reducing doubt.

B: Creating urgency addresses the need for change, not achievements.

C: Accelerating movement focuses on overall momentum.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Kotter’s Change Model: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 6, Section 6.2.

Statement 1: Correct. Force Field Analysis identifies driving and restraining forces for change, helping to address barriers and resistance.

Statement 2: Incorrect. The analysis should be a collaborative effort involving stakeholders, not solely created by the change manager.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

Force Field Analysis as a Tool: AgilePM Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 7.2.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Small Incremental/Iterative Releases: Delivering change in smaller increments allows for immediate feedback and adaptation, embodying the concept of 'Minimum Viable Change Practice.'

Other Options:

A: Big Bang involves a single, large-scale rollout, unsuitable for iterative practices.

B: Phased rollouts involve sequential implementation but may not emphasize iteration.

C: Voluntary Adoption doesn’t inherently align with iterative releases.

Key AgilePM Concepts Referenced:

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

 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.