Program Strategy Alignment – Activities and Artifacts

We know that program strategy alignment is a key process area within program management. In fact, this is one of those processes that distinguishes a program and a program manager from a project and a project manager. Although program strategy alignment is a much deeper area, here we include a summary of those activities and artifacts that a program manager typically works on to help align the program with the organization strategy. They are:

Program inception from Organizational Strategy – This refers to ensuring that a program or initiative selected for execution is derived from an organization’s strategy. Since most programs require a large investment, an organization needs to ensure that its investments support an organization’s strategy.
Develop Business Case – This refers to the creation of the business case to justify the investment in the program. Again, the large investment requires a business justification that must be documented in a business case document.
Develop Program Plan – This document is about documenting a high level plan for the program and its benefits. This document can then be used as a reference for the rest of the program’s duration and thus it ensures that the program stays aligned to the original plan.
Develop Program Roadmap – This activity and document is about creating a high level timeline of the program by highlighting the key milestones when the program’s benefits are realized throughout the duration of the program.
Perform Environmental Assessments – This activity is about performing environmental assessments to get clarity on the context of the overall program within the organization as well as the external environment.
Constant Program Monitoring – This is about the program manager constantly monitoring the various activities of the program to ensure they don’t deviate from the main goals and objectives of the organization.
Update Key Documents As Needed – This is about constantly updating documents and other artifacts of the program to meet the organization’s overall strategy.