Overview

A program is an initiative taken by a firm as part of its business strategy. Typically, a program does not have a single tangible deliverable, as a project might have. Rather, it is viewed as being more strategy aligned, and composing several projects aimed at achieving the program goals.

The benefit to grouping projects in this way is twofold

• Grouping projects together may provide coordination in the way they are managed
• The benefits of a single project may not be as apparent without considering other projects executed together with the project.

Elements of Program Management

• Program Definition and Launch
  • Alignment to Strategy The key purpose of any program is to help execute the company's strategy. This typically means that a program, when created, should explicitly document which elements of strategy it is designed to further.
    
    A key element of managing a program is monitoring the progress of the program and reporting status up to the relevant executives. Monitoring the program may entail periodic audits.
• Program Governance
• Program Risk and Monitoring
• Project Management