Hi Michael,
Agree with everything Elena said. I would not expect the exam to have intensive calculation questions (beyond basic ROI fundamentals - e.g.: there are 2 projects and you need to choose 1 - they have different IRRs and certain other assumptions).
The focus on value and strategic alignment is something that most of the certification exams are emphasizing currently - I recall Strategic alignment and value delivery being key concepts of SAFe certification as well, which is certainly very technical focused.
The emphasis is on understanding how projects align with the organizations overall goals, and this will help frame the success criteria, or the yardstick by which the outcome of projects will be assessed.

Hi Michael,

Honestly, I see this less as a shift and more as PMI making something explicit that’s always been true: projects exist to deliver value to stakeholders.

The stronger focus on “value” doesn’t mean the exam is turning into a finance or strategy test. You’re not expected to do deep ROI or business-case math. It’s more about mindset - understanding why the project exists, staying aligned with business goals, and knowing what to do when priorities or expected benefits change.

From my experience, this shows up in scenario questions rather than calculations. If you already think beyond pure task execution and consider outcomes and impact, you’re on the right track - even with a technical background.

Good luck with your prep!

-Elena

One of the new Performance Domains is "Delivery Performance," and the word "value" is everywhere in the new outline. Does this signal a shift toward more business-centric questions—like benefits management, ROI, and aligning projects to strategy—and away from pure process mechanics?

As someone from a technical background, this makes me a little nervous. Are we going to need to understand finance and strategic planning more deeply?