In most organizations, strategy is realized through the successful execution of programs and projects, yet many initiatives fail to deliver their intended strategic benefits. This course bridges the gap between high-level strategy and tactical project delivery. It equips managers with the frameworks and governance models to select, prioritize, and manage a portfolio of projects that are fundamentally aligned with and accountable to the organization's strategic goals. The focus moves beyond traditional project management tools to emphasize strategic portfolio management, benefit realization, and effective project governance to maximize strategic ROI.
Strategic Program and Project Management
Strategy and Strategic Planning
October 25, 2025
Introduction
Objectives
To equip managers and Project Management Office (PMO) staff with the methodologies to align, prioritize, govern, and execute projects and programs in direct support of the organizational strategy:
Target Audience
- Project and Program Managers leading strategic initiatives.
- Heads of Project Management Office (PMO) and Strategy Implementation Office (SIO).
- Sponsors and Steering Committee members of major projects.
- Managers responsible for capital expenditure and resource allocation decisions.
- Business Analysts translating strategic needs into project requirements.
- Professionals involved in annual strategic planning and budgeting.
Methodology
- Case studies of strategic project failure and success and root-cause analysis.
- Group exercise in applying a weighted scoring model for portfolio prioritization.
- Workshop on developing a Benefit Realization Plan (BRP).
- Role-playing a strategic project gating and resource negotiation session.
- Templates for strategic governance documentation.
Personal Impact
- Mastery of strategic portfolio and program management methodologies.
- Improved skill in articulating a project's strategic value (business case).
- Ability to manage and realize measurable strategic benefits.
- Enhanced competence in strategic project prioritization and governance.
- Stronger focus on outcomes and benefits over mere project delivery.
Organizational Impact
- Significant increase in the delivery of intended strategic benefits.
- Elimination of non-strategic or low-value project expenditure.
- Improved allocation and utilization of scarce organizational resources.
- Faster and more controlled execution of the strategic roadmap.
- Clearer accountability and governance for the entire change portfolio.
Course Outline
Unit 1: Linking Strategy to Portfolio Management
The Strategic Role of the PMO- Defining the Portfolio, Program, and Project Management hierarchy.
- Moving the PMO from administrative support to strategic execution.
- The strategic mandate: Ensuring all projects support the organizational strategy.
- The concept of "strategy drift" and how to prevent it.
- Establishing clear criteria for evaluating project proposals based on strategic fit.
- Using weighted scoring models and portfolio matrices for prioritization.
- The critical process of portfolio balance and managing capacity limits.
- Techniques for killing non-strategic or low-value projects.
Unit 2: Program Governance and Management
Strategic Governance Structure- Designing an effective Strategic Steering Committee (SSC) and its mandate.
- Defining roles and responsibilities (Executive Sponsor, Program Manager, Stakeholders).
- Establishing a robust decision-making process for strategic changes.
- Managing dependencies and risks across a portfolio of interdependent projects.
- Developing the Strategic Business Case for a program.
- Defining the program vision and its clear alignment to strategic objectives.
- Structuring the program into manageable, outcome-focused projects.
- Establishing program-level performance metrics and targets.
Unit 3: Benefit Realization Management
From Deliverable to Benefit- Defining and distinguishing between outputs, outcomes, and strategic benefits.
- Creating a comprehensive Benefit Realization Plan (BRP).
- Assigning clear benefit ownership and accountability.
- Techniques for measuring intangible and qualitative strategic benefits.
- Establishing a benefit tracking process post-project closure.
- Integrating realized benefits into organizational performance metrics.
- Managing transitional activities required to embed the benefit into the business.
Unit 4: Strategic Resource Management and Risk
Strategic Resource Allocation- Aligning human capital and budget allocation with portfolio priorities.
- Capacity planning: Ensuring the organization has the bandwidth to execute.
- Managing resource contention and prioritization across functional silos.
- The role of the PMO in enterprise resource management.
- Identifying risks that threaten the overall strategic intent, not just project scope.
- Developing risk response strategies at the program and portfolio level.
- Techniques for escalating strategic risks to the Executive Committee.
Unit 5: Strategic Reporting and Learning
Communicating Portfolio Health- Designing strategic-level dashboards and reports for the Steering Committee.
- Focusing reporting on strategic benefit realization, not just schedule and budget.
- Communicating portfolio trade-offs and decisions effectively.
- Conducting strategic lessons learned sessions at the program level.
- Integrating program outcomes and insights back into the next strategic planning cycle.
- Maturing the organization's strategic program management capabilities.
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