Successful management is the key to a successful program implementation. Effective and efficient management of a program can be the difference between success and failure.
To effectively manage a program, we must first understand the focus and goals of a program. A program is focused on long-term business objectives. It has governance and oversight over multiple, related, short-term projects that complement and build off one another to achieve the goal of the program. To be successful, the program should have well-defined goals and achievable objectives. These goals and objectives should be measurable, enabling the benefits and return on investment to be realized.
A successful program offers efficiency and effectiveness rather than chaos. Methodology and tools can be utilized to create consistency, organization, and transparency throughout the program. Whatever methods a manager uses, there are certain areas that need to be taken into consideration to efficiently and effectively accomplish the goals and objectives of the program.
- Finances
Every program has a budget and expenditures that should be carefully monitored to ensure all areas of the budget are on track.
- Communications
Consistent status reports should be collected regularly from the project level to analyze and implement changes as needed. Status reports from the program level should be sent to stakeholders at regular intervals to aid in transparency and assist in disseminating the same information to all involved in the program.
- Accountability
Every person and area involved in the program is accountable and responsible for items assigned. Accountability affects the quality of the work performed, as well as timelines and deliverables.
- Flexibility
Flexibility is needed when unforeseen forces affect the program; for example, a change in regulations, system updates, or mechanical breakdowns.
- Structure
The structure of the organization and the structure of the program can impact the success of the program. The more complex the structure, the more places there are for the project to breakdown or have a bottleneck.
- Resources
Resources include people, equipment, and supplies. Resources can be shared between projects, both internal and external to the program. Ensuring the resources are available at the time and place they are needed is key to the success of the program.
- Consistency of business processes
Ensure the same tasks are being performed efficiently and consistently throughout the various projects within the program.
