Portfolio

A coordinated collection of projects, programs, sub-portfolios, and ongoing operations governed together to realize an organization's strategic goals.

Key Points

  • Aligns work with strategy to maximize value and balance risk across the organization.
  • Components may be unrelated; selection and prioritization are based on strategic fit and benefits, not interdependence.
  • Governed at the portfolio level with criteria, funding decisions, and oversight to start, continue, or terminate work.
  • Different from a program, which coordinates related projects for specific benefits; a portfolio spans diverse work types.

Example

A bank creates a Digital Transformation portfolio that includes a mobile app upgrade project, a payments modernization program, a cybersecurity sub-portfolio, and 24/7 IT operations, all managed together to improve customer experience and grow market share.

PMP Example Question

An organization groups several projects, a program, a sub-portfolio, and ongoing operations under one governance framework to support its 3-year strategy. What is this collection called?

  1. Project
  2. Portfolio
  3. Program
  4. PMO

Correct Answer: B — Portfolio

Explanation: A portfolio is the set of projects, programs, sub-portfolios, and operations managed together to meet strategic objectives.

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