Difference Between Projects and Programs

A project is a temporary initiative aimed at creating a unique product, service, or result. Projects have specific objectives, timelines, and deliverables, and involve detailed planning, resource allocation, risk management, and financial management to ensure successful completion within the defined scope and budget. 

In contrast, a program is a group of related projects managed together to achieve strategic objectives and deliver long-term benefits. Programs focus on broader outcomes, ensuring alignment, resource optimisation, and risk management across multiple projects. Programs typically span several years—a period during which individual projects may be initiated, executed to completion, or even halted based on strategic realignment.

Programs are primarily reporting entities rather than delivery entities. Their main function is to oversee and report on the progress of the projects they include. Unlike projects, which have dedicated budgets, timelines, and resources, programs do not maintain separate financials or resource plans. Instead, they roll up financial data and resource allocations from all associated projects to provide an aggregated view. Additionally, they offer a comprehensive perspective on the risks and key milestones of the various projects. 

Programs can generate their own status reports to provide insights into the overall health and progress of the program. They also maintain a comprehensive risk log and timeline for the entire program, ensuring a cohesive view of potential challenges and milestones. This enables the Project Management Office (PMO) to effectively monitor and guide the collective contributions of all projects towards achieving the broader organisational goals.

Creating a Project or Program

Creating a project or a program in Fluid is straightforward using the Create button in the top navigation bar. If you do not see the Create Project or Create Program options, contact your system administrator to ensure you have the necessary permissions: Project Access and Project Submission.

Creating a Program

1. Select Create Program: From the Create menu dropdown, select 'Create Program'.
   
   
   
   
2. Enter Details: Enter the program title, portfolio, subportfolio, start and end dates, and primary project manager. Click 'Create Program'. Note that only the title and dates are mandatory.
   
   
3. Navigate to the Program Workspace: You will automatically be directed to the workspace of your new program.

Creating a Project

1. Select Create Project: From the Create menu dropdown, select 'Create Project'.
   
   
2. Enter Details: Enter the project's title, project type, start and end dates, and assign the project manager. Additionally, you can specify the project methodology, portfolio, and subportfolio, although these fields are optional.
   
   
3. Create the Project from Scratch or from a Template: Click 'Create Project' to start from scratch or choose a predefined template. You can learn more about project templates here.
   
   
4. Navigate to the Project Workspace: You will be directed to the workspace of your new project.

Learn more about managing your project or program workspace here.