Tag Archives: Project management

Eight Distinctions between Portfolio Management & Program Management

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Greg Githens

This article clarifies the differences between program management, portfolio management, and program management along 8 dimensions: purpose, temporal nature, aggregation, strategic alignment, success criteria, risk, decisions, & competencies. Greg Githens explains four implications for leaders of strategic initiatives: meaning of strategic alignment, number of strategic initiatives in the portfolio, strategic initiatives as programs, and immature standards. The leader applies strategic thinking to do that. Continue reading →

Posted in Program & Portfolio Management, Strategic Planning Issues for Strategic Initiatives | Tagged ambiguity, Business, differences project program portfolio, governance, Greg Githens, Leadership, Management, portfolio management, program management, Project, Project management, Project portfolio management, risk diversification, strategic alignment, Strategic initiative, Strategic management, strategic thinking, strategy execution, strategy formulation | 12 Comments

Vice President, Director, Manager of Strategic Initiatives: Position Description Best Practices

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Greg Githens

Greg Githens reviewed a number of employment opportunities for individuals with the phrase “strategic initiatives” in the job title (and the trend is upward). Examples are Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Director of Strategic Initiatives, and Manager of Strategic Initiatives. This article provides a snapshot of five positions and commentary on trends and omissions. Continue reading →

Posted in Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Examples of Strategic Initiatives, Program & Portfolio Management, Success Principles for Strategic Initiatives | Tagged American Express, balanced score card, Balanced scorecard, case study, Chief financial officer, Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Conifer Health Solutions, director, enterprise strategic program manager, Green Dot, growth, job, Management, Mattel, Organizational Development, position, program management, Project management, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Strategic initiative, Strategic Initiatives Group, Strategic management, Strategic planning, strategy map, The Hartford, transformation, vice president, vp | 8 Comments

How to Manage Issues

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Greg Githens

People often feel overwhelmed early in a strategic initiative. The good news is that there are any number of ways to get things to make sense. One way is to identify issues, and start a process of systematically managing them. … Continue reading →

Posted in Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged ambiguity, Issue management, Project management | 6 Comments

A Concise Guide to the Differences between Programs and Projects

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Greg Githens

Provides two valuable tables of distinctions between programs and projects, and 3 PMI Knowledge Areas that are unique to program management. All strategic initiatives are programs, but not all programs are strategic initiatives. This is the most popular page on the Leadings Strategic Initiatives blog. Continue reading →

Posted in Program & Portfolio Management, Success Principles for Strategic Initiatives | Tagged A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, program management, Project, Project management, Project Management Institute, Project manager, Stakeholder management, Strategic initiative, Strategic management, strategic thinking, strategy execution | 14 Comments

Vision into Results….Definition of a Strategic Initiative

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Greg Githens

Defines strategic initiatives in terms of three outcomes and introduces implications for leadership and program management. Strategic initiatives are NOT the same thing as a strategic objective. This definition provides a practical tool for establishing a strategic initiative.
http://wp.me/pZCkk-1 Continue reading →