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See also: Program Manager, the Windows 3.x Shell

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Program management or programme management is the process of managing multiple interdependent projects that lead towards an improvement in an organization's performance.

Projects deliver outputs; programs create outcomes. A project might deliver a new factory, hospital or IT system. By combining these project with other deliverables and changes, their programs might deliver increased income from a new product, shorter waiting lists at the hospital or reduced operating costs due to improved technology.

Program management is concerned with doing the right projects, whereas project management is about doing projects right. Successful projects deliver on time, to budget and to specification. An organization should select the group of programs that most take it towards its strategic aims whilst remaining within its capacity to deliver the changes.

For example, a program designed to launch a new product is likely to contain a whole portfolio of projects including:

• design of the new product - this delivers a design specification
• modifications to the production line or factory - delivers a manufacturing capability
• marketing - delivers advertisements, brochures and pamphlets
• staff training - delivers staff trained to sell and support the new product

Typically a program is broken down into projects that reflect the organization's structure. The design project will be run by the design team, the factory will manage the modifications to the production line, and so on.

Whilst each of these projects is designed to deliver something, known as a deliverable or an output, the program is designed to deliver benefits that will improve the organization. Benefits in this example will include extra sales income from the new product.

Programs are normally designed to deliver the organization's strategy, such as an ambition to be the fourth biggest supermarket by 2015 or reduce wastage by 5% in two year's time.

Program management also emphasises the coordinating and prioritizing of resources across projects, managing links between the projects and the overall costs and risks of the program.

Program management provides a layer above the management of projects and focuses on selecting the best group of projects, defining them in terms of their objectives and providing an environment where projects can be run successfully. Program managers should not micromanage, but should leave project management to the project managers.

The UK government, through the Office of Government Commerce, has invested heavily in program management. In Europe, the term normally refers to multiple change projects: projects that are designed to deliver benefits to the host organization.

Many organizations only run one program at a time, a program containing all their projects. Some larger organizations may have multiple programs each designed to deliver a range of improvements.

Contents 1 Key factors 2 Differences from project management 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links

[edit] Key factors

Governance

The structure, process, and procedure to control operations and changes to performance objectives.

Standards

Define the performance architecture.

Alignment

The program must support higher level vision, goals and objectives.

Assurance

Verify and validate the program, ensuring adherence to standards and alignment with the vision.

Management

Ensure there are regular reviews, there is accountability, and that management of projects, stakeholders and suppliers is in place.

Integration

Optimize performance across the program value chain, functionally and technically.

Finances

Track basic costs together with wider costs of administering the program.

Infrastructure

Allocation of resources influences the cost and success of the program. Infrastructure might cover offices, version control, and IT.

Planning

Develop the plan bringing together the information on projects, resources, timescales, monitoring and control.^[1]

Improvement

Continuously assess performance; research and develop new capabilities; and systemically apply learning and knowledge to the program.

[edit] Differences from project management

A program (in business) is different from a project, in that:

1. A project is unique and is of definite duration. A program is ongoing and implemented within a business to consistently achieve certain results for the business. A project is designed to deliver an output or deliverable and its success will be in terms of delivering the right output at the right time and to the right cost.
2. Program management includes management of projects which, together, improve the performance of the organization. A program's success will be measured in terms of benefits.
3. Benefits are the measures of improvement of an organization and might include increased income, increased profits, decreased costs, reduced wastage or environmental damage, more satisfied customers. In central or local government organizations, benefits might include providing a better service to the community.
4. In the course of achieving required results, business programs will normally understand related business constraints and determine the processes required to achieve results based on resources allocated. Improvement of processes is a continuous operation that very much contrasts a program from a project.
5. At the lowest level project managers co-ordinate individual projects. They are overseen by the program manager who accounts to the program sponsor (or board).

[edit] See also

• Cost overrun
• List of project management topics
• Project Management Institute

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• APM Introduction to Programme Management. ISBN: 978-1-903494-63-9
• Managing Successful Programmes. The Stationery Office. ISBN: 9780113310401
• Reiss, Geoff; Malcolm Anthony, John Chapman, Geof Leigh, Adrian Pyne and Paul Rayner. Gower Handbook of Programme Management. ISBN: 978-0-566-08603-8

[edit] External links

• The International Association of Project & Program Management
• APMG's Managing Successful Programs site
• PMI Project Management Professional (PgMP) credential