In a management terms, a program is group of related projects. These projects are grouped to obtain benefits and control that is not available from managing them individually. Programs may include elements of related work outside of the scope of the discrete projects in the program. Programs are a means of achieving organizational goals and objectives. For example, different construction projects can be grouped for organizational benefits under one program. Programs are composed of projects that work in tandem to create a consolidated deliverable that aligns with the strategic vision of the organization.

Gold plating happens when the project manager makes additions to the project scope in an effort to consume entire budget rather than surrender the balance to the program manager or customer.

Program Management is the centralized, coordinated management of a program to achieve the program’s strategic objectives and benefits. Program amanagement involves the management of all the coordinated projects within a program. Program management include the following three key aspects:

1. Benefit Management
   As a program manager you need to overall manage the activities that define, create, maximize, and sustain the benefits created by the program.
2. Stakeholder Management
   As a program manager, you need to manage stakeholders as well. Stakeholder management involves stakeholder identification, communicating with them, managing leadership issues, signing trade-offs, competing objectives, prioritization of needs and demands.
3. Program Governance
   Program governance is the enforcement of the rules and procedures an organization follows. As a program manager you need to implement organizations policies related with all the processes groups to move program forward. The program manager is responsible for implementing all procedures that are planned and expected in a program.

Program management aligns multiple projects to achieve the program goals and allows for optimized or integrated cost, schedule and effort.

Program

By definition, a program is a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually. A program is includes two or more projects managed in a controlled, balanced effort to reap the benefits not available by managing each project independently. Program management skills are required to successfully execute a program.