A series of articles introducing people already trained in Project DPro to the merits of Program DPro
Article 1: Is Program DPro right for you?
Welcome to this new series of articles which provide an oversight to the Program DPro Guide specifically for people who have already certified themselves in project management by taking the Project DPro Foundation (previously PMD Pro Level 1) exam.
Building on this foundation, these articles will discuss the Program DPro methodology and its relationship to Project DPro.
In this first article. Let’s begin by discussing whether Program DPro is a qualification you should consider taking.
Who can take Program DPro?
- Program DPro is suitable for the following people:
- Experienced Program Managers
- Aspiring Program Managers
- Country and Regional Directors
- Recruiters
- Advisory and support teams
- Individuals and organizations working at local, national and international levels.
In short, you do not have to be a practicing Program Manager in order to study for and sit the Program DPro exam. Those working towards promotion or looking to develop their careers may particularly wish to achieve the certification without being Program Managers. As such, Program DPro can be considered as both a Pre-service and an In-service certificate.
Why take Program DPro?
The Program Manager is required to manage complexity relating to various interventions and multiple strategies relating to issues such as poverty, social justice and disease or disaster. Program DPro provides the training and information you will require to synergize and integrate the projects in your program by managing complexity.
How does Program DPro relate to Project DPro?
The quick guide to Program DPro effectively defines the relationship between the two guides as follows:
Building on the Project DPro approach, Program DPro integrates the concepts and tools recommended for Program Managers into a framework to improve the management of multiple interrelated projects as part of a coordinated program.
Perhaps the big difference between Project DPro and Program DPro is that the latter has a more strategic focus on the bigger picture. Knowledge of Project DPro is not a pre-requisite for anyone studying Program DPro, but a good knowledge of project management is necessary.
How do programs relate to projects?
The figure below shows the key elements of project, programs and portfolios. A project relates to the delivery of a number of outputs, with the project manager being charged with coordinating the project and its characteristics relating to time, scope, budget etc. In contrast, the program manager is more concerned with managing the organization’s achievement of its strategic objectives through the coordination of a number of different but related projects and other activities.
In the next article in this series, we will take a look at the phases and principles of Program DPro.