The Difference Between Project & Program Management

It’s been 2 months since I started my new position of Program Manager, I love
every minute of working in this challenging environment, so I thought I would drop a quick note on what I thought the differences are between Project Management and Program Management.

From juggling balls to juggling jugglers with balls!

I think you can liken Project Management to juggling a set of balls (projects) and  ensuring your hands and brain is acting quick enough to keep them all in the air,  whereas Program Management feels like you’re co-coordinating several jugglers, who all  have lots of balls in the air, and you need to manage the jugglers passing balls to  each other on a very regular basis!

You really do need to look at and take in the  bigger picture and overall strategy, without this larger view and forward planning;  the ongoing projects won’t be aligned strategically for both the business and IT.

More strategy, less dirty hands

This doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t EVER get your hands dirty again in the joys  of managing projects on a daily basis, as you do have to do this as well!  It just  means that you tend to have to step back a bit more and let other specific project  managers or business team members run the daily stuff, while you just ensure  strategy and alignment of overall goals is still on course.

I do miss the day to  day stuff and stresses, but I do have my own projects to keep me tied up so any  potentially spare moments become project oriented!

Negotiation and High Level Support

You’re here to manage and deliver a program of work, which may involve 50 projects,  all intrinsically linked (or not) and all with their risks, issues and
internal/external problems.  I’ve found my resolving, negotiation, peace-keeping,  support skills being put to the test on an almost daily basis.

This is not a bad thing as it has developed and improved my skills in these areas immensely over a very short time frame; you really do have to be on your toes.  I guess I equate this to like a game of chess; you constantly have to think 4-5 moves ahead to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

A communication conduit

In Project Management, you need to be able to communicate effectively between the project team you’re working with, the client and any teams you are supporting, and finally the project board.

With Program Management, your communication channels are much more diverse and far reaching, you basically have to communicate right up to
the top levels for Concept, Benefits, Progress, Delivery and Review.  While working with the ranging projects that are under the program umbrella, ensuring all teams are clear on goals, direction and status.

Finally you have to ensure that there are clear communication channels between any projects that are linked into your program projects, and be a conduit for information, strategy and knowledge.

Change

The project manager tries to keep change to a minimum, and controls change requests and scope creeps with an iron fist.  This is predominantly due to the waterfall approach and ensuring the balance of time, cost and scope/quality.

Program management on the other hand is about expecting change, even embracing it at some levels, and being adaptable and flexible enough to run with it without jeopardizing the projects under your umbrella.

Conclusion

Do a search on Google and you’ll find a range of definitions and opinions on the
differences between Project Management and Program Management – I think everyone is  right in their own context – it is down to the type of work and industry you are in, and your own personal interaction and skills within that area.

I think Program Management is far more then managing a group of related Projects.  To me, Program Management starts with a clear definition of business requirements and goals at a high strategic level and from there develops into a roadmap, or Program, as to how best satisfy the business needs.

The roadmap should articulate how each Program and the Projects within each Program connect, the relationships, dependencies and data / information management.

If you then follow this roadmap, you should be successful in the overall strategic goals for the business.

Let me know if you’ve got any further views on Project vs. Program Management.

Thanks,
Tony

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