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The days of the monolithic, complex, multi-year project are over. They are just too hard to plan, manage and complete within expectations. The better approach is to break large initiatives into multiple smaller projects. These smaller projects are easier to manage and they each have a much better chance to be successful. Of course, if each project was managed independently, the entire initiative would be at risk of losing focus and getting out-of-control.

Enter the program. A program is an organizational structure that is established to coordinate and guide a large initiative made up of multiple related projects. The program provides an umbrella structure over the entire initiative and has the high-level visibility and continuity to guide all of the underlying projects toward overall success.

This class follows the model for programs and program management as described in the Guide to Program Management from the Project Management Institute.

Prerequisites

• Project management experience

Learning Objectives

At the end of this class, participants should be able to:

• Describe the purpose of a program and understand how it provides value on large initiatives

• Understand how to establish and gain approval for a program

• Recognize the prerequisites needed to actually start a program

• Discuss the value of creating the program management infrastructure

• Understand how the execution of the underlying projects leads to the overall program success

• Validate the work required to successfully close a program

Who Should Attend

• Current Program Managers

• Project managers, senior team members and senior client managers on large initiatives

• Executive and senior managers

Course Outline

• Pre-program set-up

• Program set-up

• Program management infrastructure

• Project execution

• Program closure

There are numerous exercises to reinforce the concepts taught in the class.

Class Length

• Two days (16 PDUs)