POSTER 17
Section 6 · Program Management — How It Runs
Performance Domains, Life Cycle & Governance
Programs are run through five performance domains that operate concurrently, across a three-phase life cycle (Definition → Delivery → Closure) held together by governance gates. Governance is the value-protection mechanism: it authorises components, reviews benefits, and decides go / no-go.
Visual Map — Five Domains over the Life Cycle
1 Strategy Alignment
2 Benefits Management (Poster 16)
3 Stakeholder Engagement
4 Governance
5 Life Cycle Management
Definition
formulation + planning ⟢ gate ⟣ Delivery
authorise & oversee components · realise benefits ⟢ gate ⟣ Closure
transition + close
formulation + planning ⟢ gate ⟣ Delivery
authorise & oversee components · realise benefits ⟢ gate ⟣ Closure
transition + close
The five domains run concurrently throughout; the phases are the timeline; governance gates sit between phases and at component boundaries.
1 · Strategy Alignment
- Link the program to organisational strategy.
- Program roadmap & business case.
- Environmental / readiness assessment.
3 · Stakeholder Engagement
- Far more numerous, diverse & long-term than a project's.
- Identify → analyse → plan → engage, continuously.
- Engagement is strategic, not just communication.
4 · Governance
- Program board / steering committee + sponsor.
- Phase-gate reviews & component authorisation.
- Go / no-go; balances component vs program tension.
The Program Roadmap (≠ schedule)
- A high-level chronological view linking components, milestones & benefits to strategy.
- Shows the why-when; the schedule shows the what-when.
- Anchors gate decisions & sequencing of tranches.
Exam Concepts
- The 5 domains run concurrently across the life cycle.
- Governance authorises components & gates phases.
- Roadmap ≠ schedule — higher-level, benefit/milestone-oriented.
- The program board makes go / no-go calls.
Executive View
- Governance is the value-protection mechanism.
- The board & sponsor own the benefits case.
- Kill failing components early at the gate.
Industry Example
Defence
- The frigate program's board gates each tranche; the roadmap sequences build → integration → trials → handover; stakeholders span Navy, government, primes, unions & community.
Memory Hooks
- 5 domains — S·B·S·G·L: "Some Big Ships Get Launched" (Strategy, Benefits, Stakeholders, Governance, Life cycle).
- Phases: Define → Deliver → Close.
- Roadmap = why-when; schedule = what-when.
60-sec Review
Name the 5 domains
3 life-cycle phases
What governance authorises
Roadmap vs schedule
Who makes go/no-go
PMI Visual Wall · Poster 17 · Program — Domains, Life Cycle & Governance · original instructional design · A3 landscape