IT programs and projects are both undertakings within an organization, but they differ in scope, complexity, and duration. Here are the key concepts behind each and how they differ:

IT Projects

• Specific objectives: Projects have well-defined, specific objectives or deliverables.
• Limited timeline: Projects have a definite start and end date.
• Defined resources: Projects are allocated a specific budget and resources.
• Single outcome: Projects typically result in a single, unique outcome or deliverable.
• Narrow scope: Projects have a narrower scope and are more focused on specific tasks.
• Temporary team: Project teams are assembled for the duration of the project and disband once the project is complete.

IT Programs

• Broad objectives: Programs have broader, more complex objectives that align with the organization’s strategic goals.
• Longer duration: Programs span a longer time period and may not have a definite end date.
• Managed resources: Programs manage and coordinate resources across multiple projects.
• Multiple outcomes: Programs often involve multiple, interrelated projects that contribute to the overall program objectives.
• Wider scope: Programs have a wider scope and involve the coordination of multiple projects and initiatives.
• Permanent team: Program teams are often more permanent and may oversee multiple projects simultaneously.

Key Differences

• Scale: Programs are larger in scale and may encompass multiple projects, while projects are more focused and specific.
• Complexity: Programs are more complex and involve the coordination of multiple projects, stakeholders, and objectives, while projects are typically more straightforward and have a narrower focus.
• Duration: Programs have a longer lifespan and may not have a definite end date, while projects have a specific timeline with a clear start and end.
• Objectives: Programs have broader, more strategic objectives that align with the organization’s goals, while projects have specific, well-defined objectives.
• Management: Programs require higher-level management and coordination across multiple projects and initiatives, while projects are managed at a more tactical level.
• Costs: approaching your IT goals with a Projects-based approach can considerably reduce your IT budget and further placing the client in the driver’s seat

In summary, here at Dynamics Wizards we perform IT projects that are specific, time-bound initiatives with well-defined objectives and deliverables.  While IT programs are larger, with more complex undertakings that coordinate multiple projects to achieve broader goals, we often find that Enterprise organizations undertaking this approach do not receive the best value for their IT budgets, however such IT programs often end up with “noisy” departments and sub-optimal solutions.  The client eventually learns to live with the conjoined vendor, bound by legal agreement and invoked IT dependencies that only the vendor can solve, while playing for headcounts and billable hours.  Again, we are taking an entirely different approach.