What are the most effective ways to improve program management performance and maturity?

1 Assess your current state

The first step to improve your program management performance and maturity is to assess your current state and identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can use various tools and frameworks to conduct a self-assessment or an external audit, such as the Program Management Maturity Model (PMMM), the Project Management Institute (PMI) Standard for Program Management, or the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). These tools can help you measure your program management processes, practices, outcomes, and governance against established criteria and benchmarks. You can also collect feedback from your program team, sponsors, stakeholders, and customers to gain insights into your program performance and maturity.

3 Implement and monitor your improvement plan

The third step is to implement and monitor your improvement plan and ensure that it is executed effectively and efficiently. You should assign clear accountability and ownership for each action and task and establish regular checkpoints and reviews to track your performance and maturity. You should also use data and feedback to measure your outcomes and impact and identify any gaps or issues that need to be addressed. You should also celebrate your achievements and recognize your team's efforts and contributions.

4 Evaluate and learn from your improvement plan

The fourth step is to evaluate and learn from your improvement plan and identify the lessons learned and best practices that can be applied to future programs. You should conduct a post-implementation review and analysis to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of your improvement plan and the extent to which it met your goals and expectations. You should also solicit feedback from your program team, sponsors, stakeholders, and customers to understand their satisfaction and perception of your program performance and maturity. You should also document your findings and recommendations and share them with your organization and relevant parties.

5 Adopt a continuous improvement mindset

The fifth step is to adopt a continuous improvement mindset and make it a part of your program management culture and practice. You should not view your improvement plan as a one-time event, but rather as an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment. You should also seek new opportunities and challenges to enhance your program management performance and maturity and keep up with the changing needs and expectations of your organization and environment. You should also foster a learning and innovation culture within your program team and organization and encourage feedback, collaboration, and experimentation.

6 Align your program management with industry standards and best practices

The sixth and final step is to align your program management with industry standards and best practices and ensure that you follow the principles and guidelines that are widely accepted and recognized by the program management community and profession. You should also seek external validation and recognition of your program management performance and maturity by applying for certifications, accreditations, awards, or ratings from reputable organizations and bodies, such as PMI, CMMI, or ISO. These can help you demonstrate your credibility and competence and enhance your reputation and value.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?