Trying to move from project to program managment & there is something that is confusing me .Can one project be a part of two programs? Say a company is going for a new CRM . This project is related to many other projects/programs. Does this form a part of only one program or all ? Saving Changes...
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Hans RobbersSenior Director| SalesforceVlissingen, Netherlands
The simple answer is NO. A project can not be related to programs. The simple reason a program has a vision and business case underpinning the reason to exist. So if it belongs two programs which one will gain the benefits? Saving Changes...
Dennis CochranProject Manager| Northrop GrummanBethesda, Md, United States
Gee, I'd certainly have to disagree with the 'No' answer.
According to PMI, Programs consist of Projects, Other work, and possibly other programs. So a project may certainly be related to a program. The question was, is a project exclusive to one program. I would say 'Yes'. The definition of a program "... projects managed in a coordinated way..." implies more than a simple relationship between projects, they are "managed together", by a Program Manager. Multiple program managers would certainly complicate things. In addition, program budgets are typically a roll up of project budgets. Roll-ups would be difficult if multiple parents are involved.
Projects can certainly belong to multiple portfolios, (or sub-portfolios) based on attributes that might be shared with other projects. This is for portfolio analysis purposes rather than program management purposes. Saving Changes...
Hans RobbersSenior Director| SalesforceVlissingen, Netherlands
Dennis
oops oen word is missing in my comments, the word TWO. Please re-read the message with the following adjustment
A project can not be related to TWO programs
Mea culpa Hans Saving Changes...
Bill BiglerProject Scheduler| Booz Allen HamiltonCentreville, Va, United States
I would add 2 comments to the discussion. 1. If you have a project that belongs to 2 programs, try to divide that project into 2 projects. 2. Projects can have relationships to projects in other programs, but they are usuallly minimal in number. Saving Changes...
