Definition: Program Management Plan (PMP)

A Project or Program Management Plan (PMP) is an essential document that details all the policies, procedures, processes, and other organizational rules that the program will follow to achieve the program’s outcomes. As detailing all such information isn’t usually possible in one document, the PMP lists all such documents that are required to help the program manage, execute, and control the program to achieve its objectives. The PMP includes both program planning and execution activities and thus acts as a guide for the program. Also, as the PMP has the potential to include a lot of information, the PMP development takes time as the plan is progressively elaborated by working with stakeholders.

The PMP includes the following key sections and topics:

Program overview and strategy (includes program definition and scope)
Program dependencies and constraints
Benefits Realization plan and management
Program roadmap
Program governance (although in some cases the program governance plan is documented separately)
Organizational structure
Program planning processes
Program control processes
Program execution processes (component and project management, schedule management, communications management, procurement management, etc.)
Transition management processes
Closeout processes
Key Deliverables
Risks and Assumptions
etc.