Program Management for Improved Business Results, 2nd Edition

Preface

Since the publication of the first edition of this book, many volumes of white papers, articles, and books on the subject of program management have emerged. The impact, as measured by increased knowledge about what program management is and why it is important, has been great. We feel fortunate to have been part of that change.

We also feel fortunate to have received some amazing feedback from the readers of the first edition, which was both complementary and constructive. The most rewarding feedback came from readers who felt the book helped them to become better program managers (or become first-time program managers in some cases), as well as from those who recognized that the book is “different”. This book is different by design. The differentiator is that its foundation is based upon a body of practice that focuses on how program management has been practiced historically within companies, and how it is practiced today.

Our personal understanding of how program management is being practiced has been greatly enhanced by opportunities to train many practitioners in a variety of industry sectors (both for-profit and non-profit), and by opportunities to work directly with companies that are engaged in the introduction of program management into their organizations or that are working to strengthen their existing program management capabilities. This new understanding, and the associated lessons learned, are shared throughout this second edition.

The most significant ...