What is Program Management vs. Project Management?
What is Program Management vs. Project Management?
To understand the differences between program management and project management, you must first understand the difference between a program and a project.
A program is a large project that is made up of several smaller projects that are dependent on each other. Since programs are so large, they are often managed by a team of people, with projects and tasks delegated across team members. Some functions involved in launching a successful program might include outlining objectives, planning execution, managing operations, and reporting on status. Projects are bundled together into a program when the benefits of managing the collection outweigh managing projects as individual units.
Projects are generally smaller, and often come with cost, date, and resource constraints. Project goals are normally short term, whereas the objectives of a program are focused on a company mission or overarching goal.
Now that you know the difference between a program and a project, what is program management vs. project management?
Program management
Program management is mapping out and defining the list of dependent projects that need to be completed to reach an overall goal. When it comes to the program, a program manager needs to focus on strategy and implementation, and how to delegate projects appropriately. They need to articulate the goals and objectives of the program and how it will impact the business. They usually rely on program management tools to help them stay organized in their everyday activities.
Project management
Project management involves managing the operations of an individual project within a program. Project management is a bit more tactical than program management: it mainly focuses on the operational elements of the project such as meeting deadlines, staying within budget, and completing deliverables. The project manager coordinates time, budget, resources and delegates tasks across the team with the help of project management tools. He reports to the program manager on progress and changes made to the initial project plan.
Further reading:
- What is a Program Manager vs. a Project Manager?
- What it Means to be a Digital Project Manager
- Don’t Forget These 10 Project Management Best Practices (Infographic)
Artem Gurnov
Artem is a Director of Account Development at Wrike. He previously held the role of Project Manager, overseeing a team of customer success managers (CSMs). Over the years of building teams and scaling business processes, he has successfully deployed multiple projects, from automating client outreach to setting up work prioritization tools for sales reps and CSMs.