Intro to Prog Mgmt and Domains Flashcards
How are good practices measured?
Benefits Delivery and Realization
Who determines what constitutes good practice in an organization?
Organizational leaders, program managers, program teams, and possibly a Prog Management Office
What are other terms used for the program steering committee?
Program or Portfolio Governance Board
What is a program?
Related projects, subsidiary programs, and program activities managed in a coordinated manner to obtain benefits not available from managing individually.
How are program components related?
Pursuit of complementary goals that each contribute to the delivery of benefits.
List three reasons when programs are better managed as portfolios.
- If the components do not advance complementary goals
- Are not jointly contributing to the delivery of benefits
- Are related only by the common services of support, technology, or stakeholders
What is the purpose of a project in a program?
To generate outputs or outcomes required by programs.
What are two other terms for other program-level activities?
- Operational Activities
2. Maintenance Functions
What is involved in program management?
Alignment of program components to ensure goals are achieved and benefits delivered.
How does organizational project management interface with program management?
It is a framework in which projects, programs, and portfolios are integrated to achieve strategic objectives.
How do programs deal with change?
Accepts and adapts to change as necessary to optimize delivery of benefits.
How is program success measured?
Program’s ability to deliver its intended benefits and efficiency/effectiveness in delivering those benefits.
List three ways as to how organizational strategies and priorities established as part of portfolio management support program management.
- Defining programs to be pursued
- Endorsing program strategies for delivering org benefits
- Allocating the resources that programs require
List two ways the interactions and relationships between program and project managers probably will change over the course of the program.
- Initiation: Program Manager works closely with Project Manager
- Execute and Close: Program manager focused on interdependencies between projects and project manager focused on project activities.
List four roles of the program manager as the projects progress.
- Identify and control interdependencies between projects
- Monitor project performance
- Address escalated issues
- Track contribution of projects, subprograms, and program work to consolidated program benefits.
What is the definition of business value?
The sum of tangible and intangible elements.
What is the role of the program sponsor?
A person or group that provides resources and support for the program and is responsible for enabling success.
List two ways in which the sponsor provides guidance to the program manager.
- Ensures program receives appropriate high-level attention and consideration
- Keeps program manager informed of any changes that may affect the program
What is the role of the program management office?
Standardizes program governance processes and facilitates sharing of resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques.
Are PMOs established only for individual programs?
No, may be established for an individual program or exist separately to support several programs.
What happens if the organization does not have a PMO?
The program manager assumes these functions.
What are the five performance domains?
- Program Strategy Alignment
- Program Benefits Management
- Program Stakeholder Engagement
- Program Governance
- Program Life Cycle Management
What happens during an organization’s portfolio review process?
Programs are evaluated to determine if they are achieving intended benefits
When programs are reviewed, what three documents are used to show the current and most suitable profile of the intended outcomes?
Business Case, Program Charter, and Benefits Management Plan
What happens when the program is approved?
Funding is approved and allocated and Program Manager is assigned.
What are the two key elements used to clarify the differences between a program and a portfolio?
Relatedness and Time
Why is relatedness a consideration on programs?
In a program, the work is interdependent to achieve the program’s full benefits.
Why is time a key consideration on programs?
A program is temporary and portfolios may not be.
What four items clarify a program concerning time?
- Clearly defined beginning
- Future end point
- Set of outcomes
- Planned benefits
When is uncertainty extremely high?
At the beginning of a program because outcomes are not clear.
The program’s ability to deal with uncertainty affects the projects in three ways, which are:
- Change direction of projects
- Cancel projects
- Start new projects
What is done to ensure the program’s outcomes remain in alignment with its intended benefits?
Scope and content are continually elaborated, clarified, and adjusted.
What is Internal Change?
Changes within the program.
What is external change?
The need to adapt the organization to be able to exploit the benefits created by the program.
What is needed to manage change on a program?
Strategic insight and understanding of program’s objectives and intended benefits.
What happens if there is a change to one component on a program?
May have a direct impact on delivery of related component which would necessitate a change in those components.
What are three sources of complexity in programs?
Human Behavior, System Behavior, and Ambiguity
What is interdependency complexity?
Interdependencies among components need to be clearly defined.
What is change complexity?
Arises from different level of impact change from program can cause the organization.
