Key Focus of Program Management

Correct Answer: Aligning projects within a program to ensure each contributes to the strategic objectives while effectively managing resources and dependencies.

The primary focus in program management is on the alignment and management of multiple projects to achieve strategic objectives. This involves ensuring that all projects within the program contribute towards the common goals through effective resource management and handling of interdependencies. While controlling expenses, focusing on project metrics, and implementing technology are important, they should not detract from the primary goal of strategic alignment. The correct answer balances the need for strategic alignment with the management of resources and dependencies, whereas the wrong answers each focus on a specific aspect that, while relevant, is not the primary focus of program management.

Correct Answer: Implement cross-functional teams to enhance inter-project coordination and leverage integrated planning sessions to realign project milestones with the overall program objectives.

As a program manager, the primary focus should be on resolving resource conflicts and ensuring all projects are aligned and progressing according to the overall program objectives. Implementing cross-functional teams fosters better communication and collaboration between different project teams, which helps in resolving conflicts over resource allocation and addresses schedule delays. Leveraging integrated planning sessions allows for realigning project milestones with program goals, ensuring that interdependencies are managed effectively and that all projects contribute cohesively to the program's success. This approach directly tackles the issues of delays and conflicts by promoting teamwork and strategic alignment across projects. Other options, such as sacrificing essential components like security, decentralizing decision-making without overarching coordination, or focusing solely on stakeholder feedback without resolving internal issues, do not effectively address the root causes of the problems.

Correct Answer: Establish a robust communication plan to ensure alignment among project managers, and use a program governance framework to make decisions on resource allocation and prioritization.

The correct answer emphasizes the importance of structured communication and governance frameworks to address conflicts and resource allocation issues in program management. Increasing budget, reassigning project managers, or entirely realigning the program's strategy without addressing the root causes such as communication and collaboration issues may not effectively mitigate the identified problems. A strong governance framework ensures that decisions are made in alignment with the program’s objectives while maintaining a coordinated effort among all projects.