Why is Programme Management Important?

In my previous post, I discussed the reasons why Project Managers are important. In this article, I'll ask the same question of Programme Management.

So, what's the difference between Programme and Project Management?

Programme Management is a strategic role, delivering major change to a business, aligning Leadership, People, Processes and Systems.

Any Programme of work will impact these areas, and it takes real leadership to make that work. So it's important to invest in leadership capability.

A successful Programme Manager must have a significant level of authority within the organisation. They are accountable for leading a collection of projects with a broader business objective. The Programme Manager is also responsible for guiding the organisation through the change, which is where strong interpersonal skills will be needed.

To be clear, a Project Manager managing five projects is not a Programme Manager. They are still a Project Manager, (and may have the word 'Senior' in their title) managing discreet projects within their span of control. A Programme Manager will have oversight of all the projects in their portfolio and how each project will drive the primary goals and objectives of the organisation.

If you're running a range of projects right now, ask yourself:

Are those projects prioritised in order of importance to the organisation's strategic objectives?

Are all projects assessed to identify dependencies and common objectives?

Are all resources optimised to identify any shared resources working on different projects? Is that resource duplicating effort?

Is anyone keeping an eye on the programme budget?

If there is a change in strategy, that means some projects may be cancelled, and new projects may be required. Who is responsible for identifying this and making the decision to pause or cancel a project altogether?

Is anyone focusing on how all the projects collectively impact the organisation?

Are programme-level risks assessed? For example, who is surveying the landscape to identify whether the success or failure of one project will impact the success of another?

Who is measuring the intended benefits of the programme and how they contribute to the strategic objectives?

Is anyone engaging senior stakeholders and communicating the progress of the programme?

If the answer is no, it's time to start thinking about who in your organisation can take on the challenge, or where you can get help.

To recap: Successful Program managers bring extensive experience, expertise and coherence to complex initiatives. They understand program management principles, methodologies, and best practices. Their knowledge can help you navigate challenges, avoid pitfalls and provide a disciplined approach to managing programs, ensuring the success of your long-term objectives.

Want to know more? Contact us at?https://protean-ml.com/contact/?for an informal chat about how we can assist you today.