From Tactics to Strategy: Stepping Up as a Program Manager

In From Tactics to Strategy: Stepping Up as a Program Manager I share advice I gave someone in the r/Project Management sub on Reddit (@reddit) to a Project Manager moving up to doing Program Manager level work.

Key to remember as people move up the Project Manager advancement ladder is that the higher up you go, the less tactical (100ft. view) and more strategic (30k ft. view) you need to think.

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Key Points:

In my post response to the question I share the following tips:

Do you have PMs for each project?
- If so, ask them to help shore up the information you need
- If not, KISS
  - Gather what I call the “Foundational 5” of Leader/Sponsor’s intent, objectives, team organization structure, resources and communications plans for each project
To track at a program level you need a list (MS Teams, Excel, Jira, etc.)
- Suggested list headings
  - Project Name
  - Phase (Discovery, Design, QA/Testing, Deployment, Complete or Cancelled)
  - Estimated % complete (0, 25, 50, 75 or 100)
  - Primary workstream/swim lane/category
  - Owner
  - Status (Not Started, In Progress, On Hold, Complete)
  - Priority (High, Medium, Low)
  - Due/Go Live Date

I hope From Tactics to Strategy: Stepping Up as a Program Manager was helpful for aspiring, new and experienced Program Managers.

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Kevin Pannell, PMP | Founder of KPannell Productions, LLC | Creator & Host of the KEV Talks Podcast | Principal on the @Pannell5Fit and KEV Talks YouTube Channels