Program Management

Program management represents a much less mature discipline than project management. As companies build and strengthen project management capabilities they realize that there are tangible benefits associated with managing multiple related projects in a coordinated manner, as a program. These benefits include:

• Reducing the time to market for specific projects by understanding the dependencies and critical path at the program level
• Realizing cost savings by identifying redundancies across projects
• Improving the program level ROI by sequencing the delivery approach based upon benefits associated with each of the projects

Cardinal’s Program Management capabilities are part of our approach to extend the scope and impact of the project leadership services.

Current State Well defined & established competency Means different things to different people Companies are often unaware of IT investments Problems are related to inconsistent execution Significant value is not realized Tends to be an annual budgeting event Key Value Drivers Improved execution drives tangible savings (time & money) Coordination across program drives tangible savings Opportunity to drive higher consumer satisfaction for IT customers Opportunity to establish a culture of consistent execution Managing at program level (ROI) lays foundation for more efficient delivery model

Cardinal leverages specific aspects of our project management services to help companies operate more strategically at the program level:

• Best practices around program scope, schedule, cost and risk management
• Senior level consultants that are focused on solving client’s most complex project management challenges, and building out program management capabilities

In addition, Cardinal helps clients develop and implement their program management capabilities through practical application of specific program management concepts, processes and tools:

• Setting up a program organization that provides effective management and governance of the program
• Establishing a delivery approach that maximizes the program level ROI, including ROI planning and tracking tools and techniques
• Implementing of program level change control processes, including initiation and authorization of new projects to the program
• Establishing processes to effectively transition projects from the project teams to the operations team