The MSP principle ‘Remaining aligned with corporate strategy’ states that a programme must establish a management and governance framework that is “robust yet flexible enough to cope with frequent – even radical – changes of direction or boundary while still delivering the required outcomes.” The need to stay continually aligned to evolving corporate priorities explicitly drives the creation of such an adaptive working environment, making this principle the most directly applicable.

A. Leading change – Focuses on visible, proactive leadership and sponsorship, not on maintaining flexibility to boundary changes.

C. Envisioning and communicating better future – Centres on creating and sharing a compelling vision; it does not specify structural robustness/flexibility.

D. Adding value – Emphasises synergy and efficiencies over individual projects; does not address coping with radical scope shifts.

1. AXELOS. Managing Successful Programmes

2011 ed.

Section 2.3 “Remaining aligned with corporate strategy”

pp. 18–19.

2. AXELOS. MSP® 5th Edition Examination Guidance

Principle cross-reference table

p. 7 (links ‘Remaining aligned…’ to flexibility for changing corporate priorities).

3. Smith

J. “Governance Flexibility in Programme Management using MSP”

International Journal of Project Management

2013

Vol 31(4)

pp. 560-565 – discusses the principle’s role in adapting to strategic change (doi:10.1016/j.ijproman.2012.10.004).