by Bas de Baat

The ABCs of program management

Opinion
Sep 14, 2015
IT LeadershipIT StrategyProject Management Tools

Imagine you're asked to lead a large-scale business transformation program. Before you start, you can pick 26 qualities or items that will set you up for success. What will you choose?

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure –Colin Powell

Imagine that you are asked to lead a large-scale business transformation program. Before you start, you can pick 26 instruments that will set you up for success. It can be a mix of tangible or non-tangible items. What are your ABCs of Program Management? What do you put in your bag pack before you head out and deliver? Here are mine:

Awareness

Budget

Collaboration

Decisiveness

Escalation

Finesse

Grit

High trust

Issues

Judgement

Knowledge transfer

Listen

Management information

Negotiation

Organizational Change

People

Quality

Risk

Scope

Timeline

Usability

Value

Willpower

X-road

Yield

Zero defects

As you have probably noticed my ABC’s are a fine mélange of core program management aspects and transformational values like grit, trust and willpower. Program managers who make-things-happen in today’s world are very capable of applying both dimensions intermittently. I’m curious what your selection is. Let me know!