Program Management for Improved Business Results, 2nd Edition

Chapter 5The Integrated Program Team

We have been exploring how systems thinking is a core aspect of program management beginning with the previous chapter. We began with the need to view the output of a program in terms of a whole solution that meets the expectations of one's customers and end users. We then demonstrated how a systems approach to develop a program architecture will facilitate the creation and delivery of the whole solution. In this chapter we continue the systems approach to program management by exploring how to utilize the whole solution and program architecture to create an integrated program team that can effectively execute the program.

An effective program structure is key to realizing the benefits of program management. Without careful consideration of how an organization's programs are structured, many or all of the benefits of program management will be unrealized. Having said this, however, a surprising number of companies have had difficulties implementing an effective and consistent program team structure.

Our research has revealed that one of the most common errors businesses make in implementing program management is failing to understand the difference between a program team structure and a project team structure. Simply stated, projects, especially larger ones, tend to be vertically structured with multiple layers of organization. Programs, by comparison, require system-level coordination, collaboration, and management. Therefore, they need ...