Project v programme
A project is a series of related a tasks which when they are carried in the correct order will lead to the completion of the project. Because they complete, projects are discreet and temporary, generally resulting in the creation of a tangible product or outcome. Developing a new building is generally considered to be a project as it consists of a series of stages that are undertaken in sequence and create a building after which the project is complete.
Projects will tend to run independently of the businesses involved in them and follow their own schedule.
A programme is a series of interrelated projects that may be carried out repeatedly or continuously in order to support an ongoing process. The outcome of a programme may be intangible and the projects may change over time as the programme evolves. The process of business improvement may be considered to be a programme, as it is continuous, changing, and the outcomes may be difficult to define.
Programmes will tend to be integral to the businesses carrying them out and will generally run in line with the business calendar.
NB Portfolios are groups of projects that need not be related, but which have been packaged together to manage their development and delivery, typically so that resources can be utlised more effectively.
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