MSP requires that every proposed benefit be subjected to a set of validation tests before it is accepted into the programme’s Benefits Register. The first of these tests is Attribution – confirming that the expected improvement can be causally linked to the programme’s outputs rather than to external factors. If a benefit cannot be clearly attributed, it is not accepted. Currency, Accuracy and Availability are information-quality characteristics used for managing programme information, not part of the benefits validation tests.

A. Currency – Refers to up-to-date information; not listed among MSP benefit validation tests.

B. Accurate – Concerns data quality; MSP cites Achievability, not “Accuracy”, as a test for benefits.

D. Availability – Another information-management quality; unrelated to validating benefits in MSP.

1. Managing Successful Programmes

5th ed.

TSO/PeopleCert

2020

section 5.2.2 “Identify benefits and disbenefits”

pp. 152-153 – lists “Attribution” as the primary validation test for benefits.

2. Managing Successful Programmes

5th ed.

Appendix A “Benefits management”

p. 366 – reiterates attribution as a critical validation criterion.

3. University of Oxford Saïd Business School

“Programme & Portfolio Management” course pack

2021

Lecture 6

slide 19 – presents MSP benefit validation tests

highlighting Attribution.