Keeping Your Program on Track: The Power of Monitoring and Control

Businesses crave predictability. They don't want surprises when it comes to new capabilities and realized benefits. Regular updates on program progress are essential, allowing sponsors to make informed decisions about continuing or halting the program.

Monitoring Program Progress

Effective program management hinges on monitoring. Here's how:

• Definition Phase Agreement: During this phase, you (the program manager) and the senior responsible owner establish a reporting method for tracking progress through program phases.
• Project Manager Reporting: Project managers submit reports, allowing for program plan updates and communication to the sponsoring group.
• Risk and Issue Management: Closely monitor project risks and issues, as they can impact the entire program. For example, a late project could delay dependent tasks.
• Business Change Manager Input: During delivery, business change managers provide updates on transition activities and project deliverables. They'll also track benefits realization.

Controlling Program Progress

Monitoring is key, but so is control. Ensure your program stays on track:

• Sponsoring Group Establishment: The program requires a sponsoring group responsible for major decisions.
• Gateway Reviews: Formal reviews are conducted at key milestones (concept-definition, definition-delivery) to assess program viability.
• Phase Reviews: Regular phase reviews occur during delivery to track progress and identify remaining tasks.
• Program Review: A final program review assesses overall achievement and results.
• Tolerance Setting and Escalation Procedures: Define acceptable variances for projects and establish clear procedures for exceeding them.

Example: The rebranding project has a three-week delivery tolerance. A six-week delay impacting two dependent marketing projects would trigger escalation to the sponsoring group for guidance.

Conclusion:

Effective monitoring and control activities are the backbone of successful program delivery. By systematically tracking progress and managing variances, you can ensure that your program achieves its target operating model and delivers the desired results.