¿Qué es un programa en gestión de proyectos?

Un programa es una colección de proyectos que se gestiona como un grupo para lograr eficiencias de escala. Así como la gestión de proyectos implica la coordinación de tareas individuales, la gestión de programas es la coordinación de los proyectos relacionados que se agrupan. Los proyectos se agrupan en un programa cuando los beneficios de gestionar la colección superan a los de la gestión de proyectos como unidades individuales. Un concepto relacionado es la gestión de la cartera de proyectos, un método para que las organizaciones gestionen y evalúen un gran número de proyectos agrupándolos en carteras estratégicas. Después, se analizan las carteras para determinar su efectividad general, cómo son sus estimaciones en comparación con los costes reales y si se alinean con los objetivos estratégicos más amplios de la organización. Entonces, ¿qué es un programa de gestión de proyectos? En pocas palabras, es un grupo de proyectos relacionados que se gestiona como una unidad completa.

Lectura adicional:

Tres formas de crear tu calendario de gestión de proyectos

Examples of programs in project management

Visionary: One example of a project management program could be the decision to make a multinational business entirely eco-friendly. This long-term goal would incorporate many shorter-term projects, including issuing new company guidelines, the rollout of updates across the various offices, and a marketing campaign to advertise the new principles.
Mandatory: Another example of a program in project management could be a merchant’s transition to an entirely electronic payment system. In Sweden, for example, the goal is to become a cashless society by 2023. This means many retail organizations have already undertaken smaller projects that contribute to the greater program goal of digital transformation.
Emerging: Finally, a project management program could start as a small project but turn into a larger initiative. Various company projects could be dispersed or even duplicated, so establishing a program will enable managers to bring them all under one structure.

Who manages programs in project management?

A program manager’s role is to coordinate all projects within a program to align with the strategies and long-term objectives of an organization. They oversee programs and assess deliverables to ensure that every project goal is reached. Usually, they use program management tools to help them manage everyday activities and maintain visibility and alignment across all initiatives.

Program managers are not to be confused with project managers, who focus on the individual, short-term deliverables of specific projects.

What are the benefits of programs in project management?

A successful project management program can be invaluable to a business. The benefits include:

Clarity: A program aligns multiple projects together towards one shared goal. This means project managers are clear on their individual deliverables and can plan their activities according to the program’s strategic objectives.
Efficiency: In the program management process, a collection of projects is housed in one place. Program managers can use project management software to oversee progress for all projects at a glance and prioritize resources accordingly.
Risk management: By enabling project managers to communicate pain points as they arise, a set of best practices can be established to identify similar risks early and avoid repeating mistakes.

¿Qué es un programa en gestión de proyectos?