Which statement MOST accurately distinguishes project governance from project management for a systems acquisition initiative?
- AProject governance assigns daily task ownership while project management ratifies the investment decision at each phase gate.
- BProject governance is exercised by the project sponsor alone while project management is exercised by the project management office function.
- CProject governance sets the decision framework and accountability for outcomes while project management plans, executes and controls the work within it. Correct
- DProject governance defines the technical architecture while project management negotiates the supplier contracts that deliver that architecture.
Why A is wrong: This inverts the two roles, since daily task ownership sits with the project manager and phase-gate ratification sits with the governance body.
Why B is wrong: Governance is a multi-stakeholder oversight structure rather than a single sponsor, and project management is exercised by the project manager, not by the office that supports them.
Why C is correct: Governance establishes the decision rights, oversight and accountability structures within which a delegated project manager plans, executes and controls the project work, which is the distinction set out in ISACA guidance and PMBOK.
Why D is wrong: Technical architecture decisions and supplier negotiations are project execution activities, not the oversight and decision-rights framing that defines governance.