Practitioner's Guide to Program Management

n the relatively new area of program management, this book fills a void in the scarcely populated bibliography on the topic and represents a fresh and innovative addition to the field. Irene Didnsky has written a well-researched, well-planned book that guides the reader from an introduction to the concept underlying program management and its development through history, up to the most technical aspects, with an easy to follow and well structured format. Its real life examples are very insightful and help ground the book and averts the risk of viewing the topic as a highly abstract one. In this rapidly evolving field this book, published in Summer of 2017, provides the professional with the latest concepts, ideas and techniques surrounding program management.This book is worth reading from cover to cover, both by the program managers and by those who are interested in becoming such, but can also serve as a reference for the professional, with its rich bibliography, or as a blueprint or reading material for courses and seminars.This is a must read for the serious professional.

Most businesspeople are familiar with the role of project managers. They ensure that projects become executed with quality, on time, and on budget. Not as many are familiar with the role of a program manager. As Irene Didinsky describes in this book, this role organizes a collection of projects to ensure that the organization benefits from them. The Project Management Institute, which publishes this book, supports certifications in both project management (PMP) and program management (PgMP). While PMP certification is very popular, the PgMP certification, as of the time of this writing in 2017, has not gained much steam. Writings like this book seek to change that fact.Didinsky starts by defining the role of a program manager within an organization. She also delineates their social role with various stakeholders, including governing bodies. Their main task is to ensure alignment between projects and the wider organization. Through various efforts, they seek to ensure that benefits accrued by the organization surpass the costs.After describing program managers’ wider role, she focuses on more of the nuts and bolts of how they typically work. She talks about the lifecycle of a program, from definition to benefit accrual to closure. I wish she would have exhibited a bit more imagination when describing the lifecycle; given the popularity of agile methods, described elsewhere in the book, I would have liked to have heard how those methods could apply to the program management lifecycle, too.After detailing the lifecycle, she dives deeply into the structure and metrics of a program manager’s work, including budgeting. Microsoft Project software is relied upon as a template, but not too heavily. I do not use this application, and I followed 98% of the book just fine. She concludes by talking about future directions of the profession and about growing community among fellow practitioners.My workplace uses the term program manager to apply to a class of workers, and since I work closely with many, I’ve been curious what that term meant. Didinsky helpfully details the highest aspirations of that job title and encourages me to think highly about their work. Her writing is accessible, clear, and practical. It’s more of a textbook than a work that advances an argument. Readers will find themselves better able to guide and lead projects to benefit larger organizational goals. Doing so will cut down on waste and push benefits well-aligned to the larger group.

I'm new to the program management field and was looking for a good book especialy with a facet for Agile software development practices. Someone in the office recommended to take a look at this new book. This is exactly what I needed, no regrets here. I'm not planning to become a certified PMP, just needed to know the essence of the job with no fluf. If you ever wanted to program manager or if you just wonder what program management is about (like myself), read this book. When you’re done you will know more about project management techniques than most of the PMP you'll come across.

I have been a technical project manager for many years and thought many times to share my own practical experiences in writing a PMP book, but I am very pleased that someone have already published very much what I had loved to share with everyone. I liked this book very much and the new approach it present. it's well balanced in depth presentation of the topic. I highly recommend it for all levels in this field and it's a good book if you are new to the PM career.

I only read one book on Project Management before this one. This book is quite easy to read, I liked the real-life examples that the book has. They make a somewhat abstract topic more practical and relevant. I had a privilege of working with the author on the business plan for my business. So, I can attest that methodology and approaches described in the book have wide practical applications and are easy to use.

A very understandable and practical reference. It includes some very helpful suggestions for setting up a Program Plan in Microsoft Project as well as helping a budding PM structure their program. A great tool.

It is a good overview of the program management field. Thanks to its rich bibliography, it can be used as a starting point for more in-depth research.It is also a good starter book, as if you are moving toward a program manager role or just wondering what the program management is. I am half-way and already gain a good fundamental understanding what program management is than most of the PMPs do.

This thorough and thoughtful presentation of program management provides an easy yet in-depth artistry of what makes a successful program manager. Irene Didinsky skillfully leads the reader through the intricacies of managing several related projects with expert application. Her knowledge, coupled with real-world examples, keeps the reader engaged. Ideal for training or for professional use, this indispensable book is a must read for program managers who aim to succeed in business.