The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines a Program as - "A group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually. Programs may include elements of related work outside scope of the discrete projects in the program".
By definition Programs imply corporate initiatives that are more challenging and fraught with considerably more risk than normal business operations or even major projects. In some industries the success or failure of a major Program may literally be a make or break undertaking, for example, the development of a new aircraft or the construction of a nuclear power plant. Programs tend to have a number of common characteristic. Among the are:
A strategic intent that has major long term financial and public relations consequences
Significant risks
The involvement of significant human resources
Geographically dispersed human resources and activities
Implications for a wholesale change in the operational status quo
High visibility and consequence for program leadership
Benefits achieved throughout the duration of the program, not just upon completion
Given the tremendous consequences, either positive or negative, that hinge upon the successful execution of a Program it is obvious how important it is to ensure that the right people, technologies and methodologies are brought together to ensure the foundation for successful execution.
The ProgramScope Team has proven its ability to deliver a program management platform that forms the key technology component for this foundation. Additionally, through experience, we have developed an implementation philosophy that leverages the features and functionality of ProgramScope to empower a program management paradigm that can achieve remarkable results through shaping human behavior to perform and deliver to management expectations. We look to our customers to provide the remaining elements, that is, the right human resources and the necessary level of management support and commitment to enable this process. Without all components in place a successful outcome is at risk.
The remaining pages of this section delve into more detail about the technology and the philosophy. We also share the real experiences of customers who have implemented this approach and who have "gotten it right".
