Program Management 101

 

So you've made it. You've graduated from project manager to program manager. Congratulations--only the best project managers are trusted to run programs.

So what is a program? Some businesses use the word program to refer to a grant or donation program. Others use it to outline a series of events, such as a musical program. For the purposes of this article, let's use the more common tech shop definition: A program is made up of multiple related projects. The key word is related. A group project leader might lead several project managers, but if they are all working on unrelated projects--or projects with minor interfaces--oversight of the projects takes on a different connotation. Programs are usually made up of several sub-projects, each significant in and of itself, and each an integral part of the overall program.

Programs can surface in a variety of ways, and each comes with its own set of challenges. The first method is a high visibility startup. Upper management envisioned the program, and assigned key staff to make the program successful. An example of a high visibility startup is a major consolidation program or a broad customer service initiative. Programs with this level of visibility usually get the budget and resources needed to help them succeed. The challenge in a high-visibility program is the excess oversight from all levels in the hierarchy, and the increased…

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.