| When your company is dealing with more than one | | | | the projects in the program. |
| project and this occurs for the larger companies, you | | | | The various project sponsors have their own view on |
| face the challenge to align these projects with the | | | | requirements and goals of the overall program (and |
| main strategy.How do you make this happen?The | | | | strategy). |
| main ingredients of program management are the | | | | Some of these issues can be solved or controlled by |
| portfolio of projects and the definition of a shared goal. | | | | a program management method (like the Managing |
| Management of this portfolio requires a mechanism | | | | Successful Programs -MSP - method). A method like |
| where you allocate resources (human, systems and | | | | the MSP or like Prince in an individual project level will |
| infrastructure) over the various projects. Where | | | | solve quality issues, timing, planning and many other |
| project management is much to do about managing | | | | issues. But these methods are not involved with the |
| risk, program management is more about managing | | | | content.So what you additionally need is a method or |
| benefits; those that contribute most in achieving the | | | | way in which you can manage strategic content. |
| strategy.Some of the frequent program management | | | | Strategic content is information about the strategy that |
| issues are: | | | | is made explicit and that is translated into concepts |
| Conflict in resource allocation. Different project share | | | | that is easy to communicate. In the same way you |
| the same resources. | | | | can communicate about the performance of the |
| Different projects have different and changing | | | | strategy. This could be done by introducing a Balanced |
| business priority and therefore different levels of | | | | Score Card and introducing indicators that measure |
| commitment. This is felt in the resource allocation: | | | | what you have defined as strategic.© 2006 Hans |
| Over-allocation in the committed project, | | | | BoolHans Bool is the founder of Astor White a |
| under-allocation in the lower priority projects. | | | | traditional management consulting company that offers |
| Scope changes of the individual projects because of | | | | online management advice. Astor Online solves issues |
| internal organization issues or external market driven | | | | in hours what normally would take days. |
| issues. | | | | You can apply for a free demo account. |
| Conflicting demands from the different sponsors of | | | | |