Key Points in Program Planning and Realization
Program management is an actively developing field of knowledge during the last decades. The lack of programs� common understanding, distinguishing features and at the same time the similar principles of program, portfolio and project management, insufficient accounting program�s main features, such as a large number of incoming interrelated and interdependent projects, the need for two-level management (strategic and detailed ones), creating and accumulating uncertainty due to a number of projects, demand for program�s continuous adjustment according to changing conditions of internal and external environment create the pool of problems that affects the program planning quality. Slippage, budget overruns, loss of strategic guidelines � all this lead to failure in achieving business objectives. In this paper the program�s distinctive features have been analyzed, comparative analysis of programs, projects, portfolios has been made, key points of program planning have been identified. The main elements of program plan have been defined with an accent on emerging difficulties and key components. Possibilities of use of collected knowledge related to projects and portfolios planning while creating the program plan have been analyzed. The need for developing a new approach to program planning with account of all program�s features has been revealed.