Title: Comparing Portfolio, Program and Projects A program is a collection of pr

Question

Title: Comparing Portfolio, Program and Projects

A program is a collection of projects that are manage collectively to realize benefits for the organization
that would not be earned if the projects were managed independently of one another. Programs are
usually are large, temporary undertakings such as building a skyscraper, where all of the projects are
related and interdependent, yet can be manage independently of one another.
Programs are led by a program manager, and this individual oversees all of the individual projects within
the program. The individual projects within a program are often called constituent projects, and they are
each led by a project manager.
Each project has a project team that reports to the project manager. The project managers’ report to the
program manager, and the program manager often reports to a specific manager or group of executives
who are sponsoring the program.

Within the program each project has its own project charter. A project charter is what allows the project
to exist and gives some authority to the project manager to manage the resources with n the project.  
Charters are documents that define the high-level objectives of the project, specifies the amount of
authority the project manager will have over the resources, and authorizes the project to exist. All
projects, in and out of a program, must have a project charter. Every project manager within a program manages the project team and provides direction on the project planning to achieve the goals of the project. The program manager, however, manages the program staffs provides an overarching plan for the mission and direction of the projects. In other words, the program managers provides a detailed plan for the program with the instructions for the project managers to
provide detail plans to achieve the requirements of their individual projects.

While it can be appear that the projects are isolated from one another within a program, the program
manager actually works to coordinate the efforts of each project. Imagine all of the different possible
projects within the skyscraper program: the architecture project, the construction of the building,
elevators, heating and air, landscaping, interior design, and much more. Each of these projects can be
manage independently within unique project deliverables, but the project managers and the program
managers must communicate with one another to coordinate their efforts; execution of their project plan;
and scheduling of materials, resources, and activities.
In a program, this coordination saves time, money and frustration. Coordination in a program is
dependent on a good communication and planning.

Learning Objectives:
In this assignment you will differentiate between a portfolio, program and project. By the end of this
exercise, you will able to: i) Identify a portfolio, programs and its project

ii) Research actual case studies of portfolio or programs that have been completed

iii) Explain the difference between a portfolio, program and a project

iv) Your assignment should cover the following areas of studies,

a. Process groups in phases (lifecycles) and the activities involves in each phase’s

b. The functions of Project Charter,

c. Project Management Plan

v) In your case studies, consider the project have taken the flow of Project Integration
Management process from Develop project Charter, Develop Project Management Plan,
Direct and Manage Project Works, Monitor and Control Project Works, Perform Integrated
Change Control and Close Project or Phase.

vi) Discuss where applicable, on the type of Phase sequence adopted at the planning stage of
the project delivery.

vii) This assignment will be assessed based on the course learning outcome (CLO1, PLO7).  

Materials required for this assignment:
Unless you have worked on several programs in your University, you may want to browse the internet
for examples of portfolio and programs.

Critical Thinking
Now that you have a good understanding of the difference between projects and programs, identify
three different portfolio or programs and then identify what projects may exist within the program.
There are countless programs you could use as an examples, but you may browse internet if you want to
identify some actual programs happening in the world today.

1. What is the first program you have identified?

2. How do you know this is s program?

3. What are at least two projects within this program?

4. What is the second program you have identified?

5. How do you know this is a program?

6. What are at least two projects within this program?

7. What is the program you have identified?

8. How do you know this is a program?

9. What are at least two projects within this program?

Note:  
Answers should be printed in not more than 4 pages ( at least 3 pages, each page must have 1 case studies). You may show diagrams of a program breakdown
into projects and other operational works. Above questions can be answered in paragraph format with
clear indication of question numbers. Marks will be award based on the Assessment rubric’s of this
assignment.

Explanation / Answer

As a part of our retail company’s expansion plan, we decide to set up a regional distribution center in India to cater to the demands of South Asia. The program was named “RDC-11” where 11 stands for the RDC.

2. How do you know this is as program?

I was a part of the Program as the Program manager

3. What are at least two projects within this program?

There were multiple projects in the program namely

Although there were 5 projects under the program, it was assigned to 4 project managers only (first 2 projects under the same project manager as the 2nd project could only start when the Site finalization and clearances had been secured)

4. What is the second program you have identified?

The second program that is identified was rollout of an ERP for Dubai operations of a manufacturing firm.

5. How do you know this is a program?

I was a part of this program

6. What are at least two projects within this program?

Since this was an IT implementation program, the program was divided into multiple projects spanning in IT section as mentioned below

There were 3 project managers each responsible for their projects respectively

*As a student you can replace the verbiage in a suitable way to reflect that the program details were available on the Internet.

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