Questions and Answers
What is the primary objective of portfolio management?
Which portfolio is specifically designed to manage and coordinate projects?
What does the customer portfolio influence in an organization?
In portfolio management, what is the critical aspect to ensure when managing multiple projects?
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What is an essential function of portfolio management concerning lifecycle stages?
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What is included in the calculation of opportunity cost?
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Who should receive the business case for a strategy?
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What should business cases indicate regarding initiatives?
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What is a common requirement in the format of a business case?
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Which of the following describes a challenge in the business case process?
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Why is a business case necessary before approving a strategy?
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What aspect of the business case is essential for strategy definition post-initiative?
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What is one primary reason to include a business case for each proposed initiative in a strategy?
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How should the cost outline in a business case align within an organization?
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What must a business case demonstrate regarding opportunity costs?
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Which aspect is essential for stakeholders to consider when evaluating risks in a strategy?
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What role does measuring value play in a strategy?
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What is a potential complication of calculating returns from a strategy?
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When should a strategy's business case be crafted to reflect multiple scenarios?
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Why is it important to outline the potential initiatives not pursued in a business case?
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Study Notes
Strategy Discussion and Approval
- Important to balance new area development with current commitments in strategic planning.
- Portfolio: a collection of assets for investment aiming for optimal returns.
- Portfolio management includes three main types:
- Product and Service Portfolio: Manages existing commitments and development across markets.
- Programme and Project Portfolio: Coordinates projects to meet deadlines and ensures non-duplication.
- Customer Portfolio: Reflects commitment to specific customer groups impacting the organizational structure.
- Optimal returns result from managing assets holistically, tracking investments and linking them to value.
Business Cases, Portfolio, and Strategy
- Strategy functions as a business case by outlining environmental challenges, envisioning organizational goals, and specifying actionable options.
- Initiatives proposed in the strategy require individual business cases for funding and separate evaluation.
- Business cases must show alignment with the overall strategy, detailing associated costs, risks, and benefits.
Quantifying the Value of a Digital or IT Strategy
- Value of a strategy assessed based on support for organizational purpose and achievement of desired outcomes.
- Business case should clarify initiatives that cannot be pursued due to existing commitments.
- Costs should encompass capital investments, operational expenses, compliance costs, and more.
- Risks should be assessed with potential impacts and suggested treatments; stakeholders approve risk levels upon strategy acceptance.
- Returns calculated by subtracting total costs from anticipated benefits, considering both financial and non-financial aspects.
Communicating the Business Case
- Strategy must be communicated broadly while business cases are shared only with decision-making stakeholders.
- Business cases serve as decision-making tools rather than educational resources.
- Timing of business cases should correspond with strategy review cycles; updates required if conditions change.
Format of Business Cases
- Standardized templates often guide business case composition, typically including:
- Executive summary, problem statement, analysis, options discussion, benefits and costs, timelines, anticipated ROI, risk considerations, and recommendations.
Obtaining and Processing Feedback
- Feedback on business cases can challenge the strategy, ensuring stakeholder engagement from the outset.
- Business cases provide an audit trail for funding decisions and ensure alignment with overarching organizational strategy.
- Leadership teams benefit from stakeholder insights for strategy refinement.
Dealing with Resistance
- Digital and IT strategies need to be aligned with business strategies to gain support from executives.
- Collaboration and clear communication between strategy teams and business leaders is crucial.
- Without executive backing, even well-prepared strategies may face challenges; techniques to mitigate resistance include education, job security, and incentives.
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Description
This quiz explores the critical aspects of portfolio optimization and management. It discusses how to effectively combine the development of new areas with the delivery of existing commitments to achieve the best returns. Assess your understanding of these important concepts.