Step 4: Program Management Best Practices

Last week we looked at deploying project management best practices, this week we look at a very similar process for deploying program management best practices:

Deploying Program Management Best Practices 
Once again it is essential to fully involve all the organization’s project and program managers in the process. 

Once again the process starts with defining, documenting, agreeing and implementing a standard program life cycle.

Then define, document and agree program management processes to support the project life cycle. These can be based on standards such as Managing Successful Programs (MSP) or Standard for Program Management (SPM), or a good program management handbook such as my own Project Program and Portfolio Management in easy steps. This takes you from level 1 to level two on the program management capability matrix.

Then establish a program office (or develop the project office into the role) to maintain, support and develop the agreed processes. This takes you from level 2 to level 3.

Define program reporting standards and metrics and task the program office with maintaining, supporting and developing and them. Which takes you from level 3 to level 4.

Once again you could stop here but why not take the next step and task the program office with optimising the processes and standards. This takes you from level 4 to level 5 and completes the deployment of program management best practices.

Next week I'll look at deploying a peer review best practice process.