When it comes to the world of technical program management, it is crucial to understand the key differences between project management and program management.

• Project management is focused on overseeing the successful completion of a specific project, including tasks, timelines, resources, and deliverables.
• Program management, on the other hand, involves managing multiple related projects that are grouped together to achieve a common strategic goal or objective. Program managers are responsible for aligning individual project goals with the overall program's objectives, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively, risks are managed, and stakeholders are engaged and informed. They also play a critical role in driving cross-functional collaboration, identifying dependencies between projects, and optimizing processes to maximize efficiency and productivity.

In summary, while project management is focused on delivering a single output within a set timeframe, program management involves overseeing a group of interdependent projects to achieve a broader strategic outcome. By understanding the distinctions between these two disciplines, technical program managers can effectively navigate complex initiatives and drive successful outcomes for their organizations.

A bit more examples to make sure it's very clear:

• TPM (Technical Program Manager)
  • A TPM, or a Technical Program Manager, oversees entire program and collaborates closely with Product Managers (PMs) to shape new projects inside a program.
  • By bridging the gap between PMs and technical teams, TPMs ensure that all projects incide a program are executed succsuflly.
  • TPM ensures a technology stratefy of a program alinges with a company and portfolio strategy. This could be a ensuring secuirty contraints should be a priority or maybe using cloud technologies.
  • TPM Plans where insvestments should be made, for example to improve disaster recovery by deploing your product on an addiitionl region Or maybe automate some data pipelines.
• PgM (Project Manager)
  • On the other hand, we have Project Managers (PgMs), who handle end-to-end those projects by focusing on execution and delivery.
  • They are responsible for keeping projects on track, meeting deadlines, and ensuring alignment with objectives.
  • They also coordinate teams, resources, and communication to achieve successful project outcomes.

So, in an ideal world on really big programms a TPM would usually have 5-7 projects and a few Project Managers helping them. But, in a real world, depending on a program and your organization, those Project Managers might be someone else who cover this role within a team maybe a scrum master or a sowtware enginnering manager or you might have a vendor with a project manager dedicated to your project who you can delegate a project within your program.

Advise: Some companies may label a role as Program Manager when it’s actually a Project Manager position. Be sure to read the job description carefully, and if even you're a Project Manager, don’t hesitate to apply if the responsibilities align with your experience.

Key Lesson Concepts:

• Project management focuses on individual projects, while program management oversees multiple related projects under a common objective.
• Program managers align project goals with program objectives, allocate resources effectively, manage risks, and engage stakeholders.
• Program management involves driving collaboration, identifying dependencies, and optimizing processes to achieve strategic outcomes