Program management oversees multiple related projects to achieve a goal. To deliver on time and within budget, this involves managing resources, budgets, schedules, and risks across the program.
Program managers can use best practices to manage their programs. These are:
- Establish a strong governance structure: This ensures that the program is managed well and that all projects and activities are accountable. Creating a program board or steering committee may help.
- Communicate well: Program success depends on communication. Program managers should keep stakeholders informed of progress and issues through clear communication channels.
- Avoid problems: Programs always have risks and issues. Program managers must identify, evaluate, and mitigate these risks and issues.
- Monitor and adjust: Program managers should regularly monitor and adjust their plans to keep their program on track. Budgets, schedules, and resources may be adjusted.
- Monitor progress and adjust as needed: Program managers should regularly monitor the progress of their program and adjust their plans as needed to ensure that it stays on track. This may involve revising budgets, schedules, or resources.
- Align project goals: All program projects should share goals. Program managers should align and communicate between projects.
- Program managers should ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively across the program. Allocating and tracking resources may help.
Finally, program management involves coordinating and managing multiple related projects to achieve a goal. Program managers can boost program success by defining clear goals and objectives, establishing a strong governance structure, communicating well, managing risks and issues, monitoring progress and adjusting as needed, aligning projects, and managing resources. Program managers can ensure on-time, on-budget delivery and desired results by following these best practices.