Large scale projects are inherently complex and demand an evolved approach through effective program management. I consider “program management” to be an evolved science which is all about managing an intricate and closely-connected set of projects to drive a common outcome. In programs of this nature, synergy and consistency play a most important role. Program management succeeds only when the diverse projects under it (and the matrix of diverse tasks further under each project) are coordinated with the highest levels of synergy and consistency. To treat it as one rather than many in a manner that is effective and success-oriented requires the coming together of seven key factors in my opinion.

The first is strong leadership and governance. Leadership matters when it comes to setting a vision, effectively aligning teams around common goals and making strategic decisions. A governance structure that clearly defines the roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes, can help guide projects through the various complexities and changes that they face.

 The second is ensuring a comprehensive project management framework. It is essential to adopt a robust project management methodology that can be applied consistently across different countries and teams. This must be an end-to-end framework that includes all best practices for planning, executing, monitoring and closing projects. It also has to be flexible enough to accommodate local variations, and yet, stringent enough to maintain overall coherence and quality.

Then there is the need for advanced communication technologies. To stay in the game, one needs to leverage state-of-the-art communication and collaboration tools that bridge the gap between multiple time zones and geographical locations. This is the age of nearshore, off-shore and on-shore collaboration, which is why it is important to ensure that these technologies facilitate real-time communication, file sharing and promote collaborative work. This is the best way to ensure that all team members can contribute effectively, regardless of their physical location.

However, geographically distributed teams, typical in large programs, need to be conscious of cultural competence. For program management to be effective, a deep understanding of, and respect for the cultural differences within the global team is crucial. Even if it involves additional effort in terms of training team members in cross-cultural communication, empathy and inclusiveness. This aspect really matters- because it is what fosters a collaborative and respectful working environment.

While implementing large programs, one can never underestimate the key role played by smart, tailored risk management strategies. Such strategies involve contingency planning and regular risk assessments. When unique risks associated with global projects such as geopolitical uncertainties, currency fluctuations and diverse regulatory environments are identified, proactive risk assessment and mitigation strategies are important to negate their occurrence and tide over challenges effectively (and rapidly) if these risks do come into play. 

The sixth pillar is effective stakeholder engagement. It is absolutely essential to ensure clear ongoing communication with all stakeholders, including clients, partners, suppliers and team members. Understanding their needs, expectations and concerns, while also keeping them informed about the progress of the project and issues that may arise, is a must in order to maintain trust and alignment. 

Finally, continuous learning and improvement. The success of anything depends on how you put what you learn into practice and this will always be an ongoing process. Similarly, establishing mechanisms for capturing lessons learned and best practices from each project, and using this knowledge gained to continuously improve program management processes and outcomes is what makes it a success.

I have had the opportunity several times in my career to manage a wide range of projects and programs – ranging from small projects at the start of my career to increasingly complex, high-risk and strategically important projects as I went further. Whether it was a simple, on-site process or ones that were large and spread across the world, these seven principles have remained the consistent backbone of ensuring that they were delivered successfully.