Program management
Program management is one of the project management disciplines that describes initiatives. There are 3 types of initiatives, projects, programs, and portfolios, that are very different from each other. The main purpose of these initiatives is to help organizations to add value and reach their objectives. Following, let’s explore program management in more detail. Next, you can also check the posts on project management and portfolio management.
Program
A program gathers related initiatives that need to be managed in a coordinated way to guarantee that their common objectives are achieved. The initiatives, that we can find in a program are, therefore, projects, sub-programs, and support activities. Let’s see each of them I’m more detail. Firstly, projects are initiatives that are temporary, and that develop unique products, services, or results. Secondly, sub-programs, are initiatives that divide the program into smaller components that the program manager cam manage more easily. Finally, support activities, are activities that help the program management, like, for example, marketing, and human resources.
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Program Management
As we saw, a program is a set of initiatives. These initiatives are related between them and the program manager needs to manage them in a coordinated way. The program manager needs to do this to ensure that one initiative doesn’t hurt another. For this to happen, integration management needs to guarantee that all results, scope, deadlines, times, costs, resources, and risks of each initiative are analyzed and don’t harm another initiative. Moreover, integration management also needs to ensure that all initiatives have a positive impact on the program and the organization’s objectives.
Thus, program management is essential for all organizations that have more them one project running at the same time. In fact, without program management, all organizations would found difficult to synchronize the development of multiple projects and activities. The reality is that different teams developed different products. Moreover, each product may also be a different project with its scope, costs, and schedule baselines. So, if the products are related, if program management would not step in, the probability of the initiative not succeeding would be enormous. Program management’s role is to build connections between all related initiatives. His role is also to guarantee that one decision on one initiative will not harm another.
Program Management roles and responsibilities
The main role of the program manager is without surprise to manage the program. Even so, during the program life cycle the roles and responsibilities of the program manager will be different. When the program is been launched the main responsibilities of the program manager are, defining the expected result of the program and analyzing the program justification. Their main responsibilities also include determining expected benefits from the program and defining the budget and schedule of the program. Finally, they also should define quality standards, and align expected project results with the project’s outputs.
While the program is running, the responsibilities of the program manager change a little. When the program is in the start-up phase, most of its roles are related to defining and analyzing expected benefits, costs, outcomes, and so on. When the program is running the program manager is responsible for activities more related to making the program run. In other words, their main responsibilities are, to authorize the start of the projects, sub-programs, or support activities. They should also, determine project tolerances, look over program performance, and spread the information between stakeholders. The program manager’s main responsibilities also include controlling and managing bondage’s between projects as well as coordinating efforts that can serve several projects. Moreover, program managers should also keep program documentation updated, and carry out change management activities. Finally, they should analyze future programs.