Governance Basics
This term refers to the framework, functions, and processes that guide project decision-making, oversight, and accountability.
What is project governance?
This type of project typically requires more formal governance, documentation, and oversight.
What are high-risk or high-complexity projects?
This is the documented route a project manager follows when an issue cannot be resolved at their level.
What is an escalation path?
This term refers to the triggers that require the PM to escalate issues, such as cost variance limits or schedule delays.
What are escalation thresholds?
Skipping governance planning often leads to unclear authority and this common project issue.
What is delayed decision-making?
This group provides high-level direction, approves major decisions, and ensures alignment with organizational strategy.
What is the governance board (or steering committee)?
When determining governance, the PM considers how decisions are made, who approves what, and how this is documented in this artifact.
What is the project management plan?
This component defines the specific conditions under which a problem must be elevated to a higher authority.
What are escalation thresholds?
A deviation of greater than 10% schedule variance might be an example of this governance element.
What is a predefined threshold?
This trap occurs when the PM escalates all issues, regardless of thresholds.
What is over-escalation?
This governance function ensures the project is monitored objectively for performance, compliance, and alignment with strategy.
What is oversight?
In adaptive environments, governance may rely more on this recurring event where work is reviewed and decisions are made.
What are ceremonies such as sprint reviews?
This person is typically the first point of escalation when issues exceed the PM's authority.
Who is the project sponsor?
These measurable limits help ensure the project stays aligned with cost, time, and scope expectations.
What are control thresholds?
This problem occurs when the PM assumes governance will “figure itself out” once the project begins.
What is lack of defined governance?
PMI recommends that project governance should reflect this larger existing structure whenever possible.
What is the organizational governance structure?
PMI recommends aligning project governance with this factor to ensure consistency and avoid confusion with enterprise standards.
What is existing organizational governance?
This governance element ensures that problems reach the correct person quickly based on urgency and impact.
What is the escalation hierarchy?
When thresholds are exceeded, this formal document may be required to adjust the baseline.
What is a change request?
PMI warns against setting escalation thresholds that are too low because it can overwhelm this group.
Who is the governance board or sponsor?
This component contains the rules, roles, and responsibilities that determine how the project is monitored and controlled.
What are governance guidelines?
This governance practice evaluates project performance at key points to decide whether to continue, change, or terminate the project.
What is a stage gate review?
These two factors—level of impact and level of authority—normally determine whether an issue should be escalated.
What are impact and decision authority?
Thresholds are designed to protect this element of project management, ensuring that deviations are managed properly.
What is the baseline?
This trap occurs when a PM designs governance that contradicts the organization’s existing structure, causing confusion.
What is misaligned governance?