Both the program management and the project management might the same titles and couldn’t possibly be different, right? No!
While project managers and program managers share the same responsibilities, there are main differences between the two. So whether you are considering either as a future career or just in search to know how these two camps will work better together, its essential to know how they are linked to each other.
Project Vs Program
Before discussing the differences and similarities between the two roles, its essential to know what separates them.
Projects are basically one – off, interim undertakings. They are usually bound by budget, cost, time constraints and resource. They also have proper end dates and short – term goals that offer a way to tangibly deliverables and outcomes.
Programs are bounded with various interconnected and underlying projects. These complete and build off one another to attain a long – term and larger business aim. A successful program steers strategic advantages and organizational growth, rather than a deliverable that is tangible and single.
Lets consider that an organization wants to convert more CIOs. It may ask its marketing teams to make a demand generation program to move CIO interest and conversion. Various projects, it can be anything related to CIO like an ebook or a webinar, for instance – might then take steps into the program.
What is A Program Manager?
A Program Manager is the one who articulates the strategy and objective of a program and assesses how it will impact the business. The Program manager must explain and oversee the list of dependent projects needed to attain the overall objectives.
Just like an architect who designs the blueprint, while don’t take charge in installing drywall and plumbing, they ensure all these things come together to build a beautiful home. Their role extends beyond the completing of specific projects to a long term realization of the complete program. Their responsibilities will be enlisting teams, measuring return on investment, implementing strategies, and other big picture capabilities.
What Is A Project Manager?
Project manager supervises the operations of specific projects within programs. They coordinate budget, time, resources to finish a work within program guidelines and submit it to the program manager on progress and changes are made to the initial project plan.
A project manager’s role is more strategic than a program manager. Like as the instance mentioned previously, a program manager is an architect while project managers are electrical engineers, painters and plumbers.
They mainly target on managing and executing the functional element of a project. This also includes meeting deadlines, completion of deliverables, assigning tasks and staying within the budget.
The Key Difference Of Program And Project Management
- Program managers oversee a different project while project managers monitor only specific projects.
- Program managers target on long – term business goals; project managers have solid and short – term deliverables
- Program managers are crucial; Project managers are skillful.
These are the main difference between the program management and project manager, while they sound the same but there are so many dissimilarities between the two.
ManagementGuide 