Program Management Skills

Program Management
Skills
Tathagat Varma
Sr Director, Strategic Programs and Biz Ops
Yahoo! India R&D

Project vs. Program Management
Area

Project Management Program Management

Focus

Non-strategic

Strategic

Objectives

Singular

Multiple

Extent of Change

Narrow

Broad

Benefits Realization

Once

Incremental

Deliverable Complexity

Low

High

Deliverable Quantity

Few

Many

Overall Time Scale

Rigid

Loose

Scope Change

Exceptional

Desirable

Functional Diversity

Minimal

Multidisciplinary
From “Program Management Complexity”

Competencies

Levin-Ward
Program
Management
Competency Model

Personal Competencies

Communicating

Thinking
Critically

Leading

Building
Relationships

Negotiating

Facilitating

Mentoring

Embracing
Change

Communicating
• Actively listens, understands, and responds to stakeholders • Uses the key channels of communication
• Ensures the quality of the information that is communicated • Tailors the information to the audience
• Effectively uses each of the different communications dimensions Leading
• Implements the program’s vision
• Establishes the program’s direction
• Recognizes the interdependencies within the program • Takes calculated risks; is venturesome
• Assumes ownership of the program

Building Relationships
• Builds trust among stakeholders, clients, and team members
• Leverages the organization’ political dynamics to promote program goals
• Advocates for diversity and treats others with courtesy and respect • Establishes and demonstrated high standards for personal and team member performance
• Promotes and demonstrated ethics, integrity, and adherence to corporate values in all interactions

Negotiating
• Obtains needed program resources
• Ensures program alignment with the organization’s strategies
• Works proactively with the Program
Governance Board
•