Our organization is working on an improved career path for our project managers. The sticking question concerns titles. We are torn between using Project Manager and Program Manager. The variations: associate, senior, etc. have been agreed upon. I would be very interested in hearing how other organizations are managing this issue. What titles do you use? Why? Thank you for your time and attention. Saving Changes...
Scott TheusSenior Project Manager and Agilist| BWX TechnologiesEuclid, Oh, United States
Hi Karen,
Traditionally, "Project Manager" and "Program Manager" are two very distinct levels of responsibility; regardless of experience, tenure, hierarchy, etc., a Project Manger is responsible for a single aspect of Program, while the Program Manager oversees all of the projects (and project managers) in a particular program. If you go higher up the food chain, a Portfolio manager is in charge of several related Programs.
To break it down, a Portfolio Manager could be in charge of Accounting Systems, a Program Manager in charge of Accounts Receivable Systems, and a Project Manager leading projects for generating invoices and electronic payments.
The question for you is this: How does your company manage the products they deliver? This includes internal products used by employees, like accounting systems. If you are a more traditional Waterfall shop, then I suggest sticking with the hierarchical Project and Program level roles; Associate PM, PM, and Senior PM for Project Managers, and Assistant Program Manager, Program Manager, and Portfolio Manager for the others.
If you are more of an Agile shop, then look to a more product oriented structure with Product Owners, Team Leads, Scrum Masters, etc.
Hope this helps,
Scott
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1 reply by Karen Dittman
Jan 29, 2020 7:32 PM
Karen Dittman
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Scott, Thank you so much for your reply. We currently use Program Managers, managing programs and Project Managers, managing projects. We also have Agile in various places and seem to be moving in that direction more and more. The title question has arisen because we are trying to bring more clarity to the roles. We have different people with different views. I thought it would help to know what PMI-people thought. So thank you.
Karen
Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear Karen
Interesting your question
Thanks for sharing
After Scott's brilliant intervention on the subject, we need to know:
- Do you run a project?
- Manage several projects towards the same objective?
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1 reply by Karen Dittman
Jan 29, 2020 7:34 PM
Karen Dittman
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Luis, Thank you for taking the time to reply. We do have people who manage a (one) project. We have people who manage more than one project. And we have grouped our projects into programs. I'm assuming you can see my response to Scott? We are working our way to some additional clarity and I thought I would see what opinions PMI-people had. Thank you.
Karen
Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
These are different / distinct roles. If responsibility is across several projects on a regular basis, then more of a program manager, as in responsible for a program with multiple projects supporting the programs objective.
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1 reply by Karen Dittman
Jan 29, 2020 7:37 PM
Karen Dittman
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Andrew,
Thank you for responding. In reviewing, and improving our framework, we are clear on the responsibilities of those managing projects and programs. We have different views as we try to settle on one title -- should we use project, program, or both? That's why I posted this note -- I wanted to see what PMI-people thought. Thank you.
Karen
Traditionally, "Project Manager" and "Program Manager" are two very distinct levels of responsibility; regardless of experience, tenure, hierarchy, etc., a Project Manger is responsible for a single aspect of Program, while the Program Manager oversees all of the projects (and project managers) in a particular program. If you go higher up the food chain, a Portfolio manager is in charge of several related Programs.
To break it down, a Portfolio Manager could be in charge of Accounting Systems, a Program Manager in charge of Accounts Receivable Systems, and a Project Manager leading projects for generating invoices and electronic payments.
The question for you is this: How does your company manage the products they deliver? This includes internal products used by employees, like accounting systems. If you are a more traditional Waterfall shop, then I suggest sticking with the hierarchical Project and Program level roles; Associate PM, PM, and Senior PM for Project Managers, and Assistant Program Manager, Program Manager, and Portfolio Manager for the others.
If you are more of an Agile shop, then look to a more product oriented structure with Product Owners, Team Leads, Scrum Masters, etc.
Hope this helps,
Scott
Scott, Thank you so much for your reply. We currently use Program Managers, managing programs and Project Managers, managing projects. We also have Agile in various places and seem to be moving in that direction more and more. The title question has arisen because we are trying to bring more clarity to the roles. We have different people with different views. I thought it would help to know what PMI-people thought. So thank you.
Karen Saving Changes...
Dear Karen
Interesting your question
Thanks for sharing
After Scott's brilliant intervention on the subject, we need to know:
- Do you run a project?
- Manage several projects towards the same objective?
Luis, Thank you for taking the time to reply. We do have people who manage a (one) project. We have people who manage more than one project. And we have grouped our projects into programs. I'm assuming you can see my response to Scott? We are working our way to some additional clarity and I thought I would see what opinions PMI-people had. Thank you.
Karen Saving Changes...
These are different / distinct roles. If responsibility is across several projects on a regular basis, then more of a program manager, as in responsible for a program with multiple projects supporting the programs objective.
Andrew,
Thank you for responding. In reviewing, and improving our framework, we are clear on the responsibilities of those managing projects and programs. We have different views as we try to settle on one title -- should we use project, program, or both? That's why I posted this note -- I wanted to see what PMI-people thought. Thank you.
Karen Saving Changes...
It would come down to the size of you organisation, it hierarchy, the budget size of the projects that you are implementing, if you work primarily in the private or public space, if the roles already exist in your organisation, if you have a HR progression plan for project managers, what the existing culture is in you organisations. Also the life span of you projects and if they develop into programs. Also by using the term program manager will this cost your organisation more to retain and find additional program managers. There is a lot of consideration to weight up before you decide on what route to go but at the end of the day your project and program managers will need to have the experience, professional credentials and qualifications to undertake the roles of project and program managers.
Daire
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1 reply by Karen Dittman
Jan 30, 2020 4:35 PM
Karen Dittman
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Daire,
Thank you for your reply. You brought up some interesting points that I will most definitely pass along for further discussion.
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Projects are grouped into programs. A program falls within a certain area, for example, Manufacturing, Quality, Innovation, etc. Every Program has a PgM and various PMs. A PfM manages the Portfolio.
Seniority of PM applies.
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1 reply by Karen Dittman
Jan 30, 2020 4:37 PM
Karen Dittman
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Eduard,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I believe we have that essential view and structure. Our discussion is about changing the internal titles of people to all be some form of 'program manager', eliminating the 'project manager' term. I reached out to see what the PMI world's thoughts were about that.
Thank you.
Karen
Community Champion
