You may already be familiar with the terms ‘project’ and ‘project management.’ Simply put, a project is an undertaking that involves a sequence of tasks and activities having defined scope and resources. To meet the requirements of a project, companies carry out project management, i.e., they apply skills, knowledge, various tools, and techniques to project activities. But have you next heard about Program and Program Management?
Well, a program refers to the cluster of ongoing business operations that share a common goal. And, program management refers to the coordinated management of the group of projects so as to achieve the set objectives. It has been observed that program management offers various benefits that would not have been achieved had the projects been managed individually. The scope of program management goes beyond the completion of its projects to the long-term program execution.
If you are willing to carve out a path leading to a program manager role, then you first need to have rich experience in project management. If you have relevant experience working as a project manager and have achieved a project management certification, then chances are high that you will be eligible for a program manager role. Let us know more about program management and understand what are the best resources to learn more about this topic.
What is a Program Manager?
The program manager is an individual who supervises a group of dependent projects to meet the program objectives. They identify, rationalize, control, and monitor the inter-dependencies among those projects and deal with any bottlenecks that occur. Taking up the issues that are outside the scope of a project manager is also one of their important responsibilities. A strong understanding of quality control, risk management, stakeholder communication management, change management, and reporting is essential if you are eyeing the program manager designation.
Program managers manage complex activities that may span across functions, organizations, geographic regions, and cultures. Such professionals build credibility, establish rapport, and handle communication with internal and external stakeholders. Initially, their primary responsibility is to define and initiate projects and assign specific project managers for the purpose of managing the cost, scheduling, and performance of component projects.
How Can I Learn Program Management?
There are several ways you can explore the world of program management. Unlike traditional learning where people need to enroll in university programs to learn anything new, modern education offers several learning options. There are online training courses, books, tutorials, blogs, communities, as well as certification programs to help you learn any subject. Discussed below are some of the resources for your referral.
Training course – One of the best ways to learn about program management is by enrolling in a reputed training course online. Simplilearn, edX, Coursera, and Udemy are the popular edtech platforms that offer courses on program management. Though you may not find a course specific to program management, you will find a number of courses on project management. You can take any of them and build a strong foundation in program management.
Certifications – Another smart way to polish your program management skills is to achieve industry-recognized certifications in this field. The prestigious Project Management Institute (PMI) offers a well-known certification for aspirants – the Program Management Professional (PgMP). As per PMI, the PgMP certification is a visible sign of your advanced experience and knowledge and provides you a distinct advantage in employment and promotion. The best part is PMI offers a number of resources to help you prepare for the PgMP certification exam. There are PMI Authorized Training Providers that impart program management training programs and their syllabus is aligned with the PgMP certification exam.
Books – If you prefer the traditional way of learning, then books are quite convenient. First off, we would recommend you to refer to PMI’s ‘The Standard for Project Management – Fourth Edition.’ It is the definitive guide for all individuals and organizations willing to mature their program management practices. Other books include:
- The Handbook of Program Management: How to Facilitate Project Success with Optimal Program Management by James T Brown
- Program Management (Fundamentals of Project Management) by Michael Thiry
- PgMP: Program Management Professional Exam Study Guide by Paul Sanghera
Lastly, there are many blogs, communities, forums, webinars, social media groups related to program management on various social media channels. You can find more about them through Quora and Reddit. Going through blogs and webinars will keep you updated regarding the latest best practices and trends in program management.
Project managers are highly sought-after professionals in this digital world. And if you have hands-on experience handling complex projects, you can seek more ambitious roles like that of a program manager. So when are you learning about program management and starting a high paying career?
