Governance, Roles & Organisation

Who is ultimately accountable for the project's business case and for ensuring it delivers value for money?

• A The team members
• B The end users
• C The project manager
• D The project sponsor ✓

Answer: The sponsor owns the business case and is accountable for ensuring the project remains justified and delivers value for money throughout its life.

What is the primary responsibility of the project manager?

• A To sign off the final benefits realisation report as the accountable owner
• B To set the organisation's overall strategy
• C To own the business case and secure funding
• D To deliver the project's objectives within agreed constraints through day-to-day management ✓

Answer: The project manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project, delivering its objectives within the agreed time, cost and quality constraints.

What is the purpose of project governance?

• A To remove the need for any reporting
• B To provide the framework of authority, accountability and decision-making that keeps the project aligned with organisational objectives ✓
• C To allow each team member to make independent strategic decisions
• D To guarantee the project can never be stopped

Answer: Governance provides the structures, authorities and processes ensuring a project is directed and controlled effectively and remains aligned with the organisation's strategy.

What is the main role of a project steering group (project board)?

• A To carry out the hands-on technical work
• B To provide direction, oversight and key decision-making on behalf of the organisation ✓
• C To replace the project manager on a daily basis
• D To write all of the project's deliverables

Answer: A steering group/board provides governance oversight, direction and authority for major decisions, supporting the sponsor in steering the project.

In a functional organisation structure, project team members typically:

• A Have no line manager at all
• B Are always seconded full-time to a dedicated project team
• C Report solely to the project manager with no functional manager
• D Remain within their functional departments and report mainly to their functional manager ✓

Answer: In a functional structure, staff stay within their departments and report primarily to functional managers, with the project manager having limited authority.

What is a key advantage of a matrix organisation structure?

• A It removes all reporting relationships
• B It balances functional expertise with project focus by sharing resources across both ✓
• C It guarantees no resource conflicts ever occur
• D It eliminates the need for a project manager

Answer: A matrix structure shares resources between functional and project lines, combining specialist expertise with project focus, though it can create dual-reporting tensions.