Program Management: Framework, Strategy, and Planning
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Program Management: Framework, Strategy, and Planning
This course is part of multiple programs.
Instructors: SkillUp
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What you'll learn
Essential, highly sought-after program manager skills for aligning strategic program initiatives with organizational goals.
The three phases of the program lifecycle, program manager responsibilities, and how to create a comprehensive, effective program management plan.
What a program manager does with respect to framework, strategy, and planning, including benefits realization and value creation processes.
Risk management strategies that minimize program uncertainties, reinforced through practical hands-on labs and interactive exercises.
Skills you'll gain
- Risk Analysis
- Benefits Administration
- Risk Mitigation
- Plan Execution
- Risk Management
- Project Closure
- Project Management Life Cycle
- Strategic Planning
- Project Portfolio Management
- Program Management
- Organizational Strategy
- Project Management
- Program Development
- Change Management
- Program Implementation
- Portfolio Management
Details to know
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There are 4 modules in this course
Businesses report that 80% more projects meet forecast ROI when benefits are aligned with an organization’s strategic goals (PMI). This course provides aspiring program managers (PMs) with the in-demand skills needed to align multiple projects with strategic goals and ensure program success.
Framework, strategy, and planning are essential tools in a PM’s toolkit that provide the structure and roadmap they need to align program objectives with organizational goals. In this course, you’ll explore the three phases of the program lifecycle and the PM’s critical responsibilities in each phase. You’ll examine how programs align with organizational strategy, while balancing portfolio and operations management. You’ll learn how to implement strategic initiatives in a changing environment, define program activities and key deliverables to ensure success, and include effective risk management strategies. Throughout the course, you’ll gain valuable hands-on practice through online labs. Plus, you’ll complete a final project that covers a real-world scenario in a practical setting. Enroll today and build essential skills you need for success as a program manager!
In this module, you will learn about the program management lifecycle in detail. The program management lifecycle is a three-phased process that manages a program from program definition through program delivery and closure. We will explain the various activities that occur in each phase and highlight the program manager’s critical responsibilities. We will also share three checklists to ensure you understand the specific activities essential to the success of each phase.
What's included
10 videos2 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt8 plugins
10 videos•Total 62 minutes
- Course Introduction•5 minutes
- Meet the Experts•3 minutes
- Program Management Overview•5 minutes
- Program Lifecycle Overview•7 minutes
- Program Definition Phase•6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Program Definition Phase•8 minutes
- Completing the Program Definition Phase•8 minutes
- Program Delivery Phase•7 minutes
- Program Closure Phase •6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Program Closure •8 minutes
2 readings•Total 15 minutes
- Course Overview•10 minutes
- Summary and Highlights: The Program Lifecycle•5 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Program Lifecycle: Definition Phase•10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Program Lifecycle: Program Delivery and Closure Phases•10 minutes
- Graded Quiz: The Program Lifecycle•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 15 minutes
- (Optional) Program Lifecycle Phases•15 minutes
8 plugins•Total 95 minutes
- Reading: How to Make the Most of this Course•5 minutes
- Reading: Program Management Performance Domains•5 minutes
- Reading: Program Definition Phase Checklist•5 minutes
- Lab: Analyze a Program Definition Scenario•30 minutes
- Reading: Program Delivery Phase Checklist •5 minutes
- Reading: Program Closure Phase Checklist •5 minutes
- Lab: Analyze a Program Closure Scenario•30 minutes
- Glossary: The Program Lifecycle•10 minutes
In this module, you will learn about the relationship between organizational strategy, program management, portfolio management, and operations management. We will then explain the key requirements for success. The strategic initiative development process describes how programs relate to portfolios and projects. Additionally, it shows how to implement strategic initiatives in a changing environment. We end with an in-depth overview of the benefits management process and key deliverables essential to success.
What's included
7 videos1 reading3 assignments1 discussion prompt5 plugins
7 videos•Total 48 minutes
- Strategic Initiative Development •6 minutes
- Demo: Portfolios as a Vehicle to Deliver Strategic Initiatives•10 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Strategic Initiative Planning •7 minutes
- The Benefits Management Process •7 minutes
- Demo: Benefits Identification, Analysis, and Planning •6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Organizational Maturity and Change •7 minutes
- Demo: Benefits Delivery, Transition, and Sustainment •5 minutes
1 reading•Total 3 minutes
- Summary and Highlights: Strategy Alignment and Benefits Planning•3 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Business Strategy and Programs Link•10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Managing Program Benefits•10 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Strategy Alignment and Benefits Planning•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- (Optional) Strategic Planning and Benefits Management •10 minutes
5 plugins•Total 85 minutes
- Reading: Illustrating the Strategic Initiative Development Process •15 minutes
- Lab: Develop a Portfolio Based on a Scenario•30 minutes
- Reading: The Benefits Management Process: A Checklist •5 minutes
- Lab: Develop a Benefits Register •30 minutes
- Glossary: Strategy Alignment and Benefits Planning•5 minutes
In this module, you will learn about program integration management or PIM. Program integration occurs across the entire program lifecycle and includes activities needed to identify, define, combine, unify, and coordinate multiple components in the program. The program lifecycle consists of three distinct phases that must be integrated to achieve program success. The three phases include program definition, program delivery, and program closure. For effective integration, you will have to make decisions regarding competing demands, priorities, and interdependencies among components.
What's included
8 videos1 reading3 assignments1 discussion prompt8 plugins
8 videos•Total 54 minutes
- Program Integration Management•5 minutes
- Demo: Program Formulation Activities •7 minutes
- Demo: Program Planning •6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Program Formulation and Planning •9 minutes
- Demo: Communications and Information Management •5 minutes
- Demo: Scope and Schedule Management•5 minutes
- Demo: Program Delivery: Risk Management•10 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Program Manager Role in Delivery •7 minutes
1 reading•Total 2 minutes
- Summary and Highlights: Program Activities and Execution •2 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Program Integration and Benefits Realization•10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Program Delivery, Closure, and Risk Management•10 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Program Activities and Execution •30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- (Optional) Program Planning and Risk Management •10 minutes
8 plugins•Total 125 minutes
- Reading: Program Business Case and Program Charter Overview and Templates •15 minutes
- Reading: Program Management Plan Overview and Templates•15 minutes
- Lab: Create an Abbreviated Program Management Plan•30 minutes
- Program Delivery Phase Activities •10 minutes
- Reading: Program Delivery: Quality Management •10 minutes
- Reading: Program Closure•10 minutes
- Lab: Risk Management•30 minutes
- Glossary: Program Activities and Execution •5 minutes
In this module, you will complete a final guided project where you will work on an e-commerce development program aimed at managing a portfolio designed to establish and enhance Sakura Sweets' online presence. You will also take a final graded quiz to assess your skills and apply your knowledge. The module concludes with a summary of the course highlights.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment1 plugin
1 video•Total 5 minutes
- Course Highlights and Key Takeaways•5 minutes
3 readings•Total 9 minutes
- Final Project Overview•5 minutes
- Congratulations and Next Steps•3 minutes
- Team and Acknowledgments•1 minute
1 assignment•Total 60 minutes
- Final Graded Quiz•60 minutes
1 plugin•Total 60 minutes
- Final Project: Sakura Sweets Online Presence Enhancement•60 minutes
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Reviewed on Oct 28, 2025
Very good quality, I can only recommend. I love the downloadable content, it helps a lot.
Reviewed on Oct 11, 2025
Fantastic course and the course itself takes you through the in-depth activities a program manager does with documents and templates provided for practice. Great job to the course team!
Reviewed on Oct 24, 2024
It looks good and aligned with PMI, few things missing though: very little real person speaking and mostly presentations with reading behind scenes. Need more real person experience not a slide show
Frequently asked questions
A program manager ensures that the program aligns with the organization’s strategic goals by coordinating related projects, optimizing resource use, and managing risks to deliver overall business value and benefits.
A framework in program management is a structured approach that provides guidelines, processes, and best practices for managing and executing programs effectively, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and successful delivery.
The program manager contributes to the strategic planning process by aligning program objectives with organizational goals, developing strategies for program execution, and ensuring that project outcomes support long-term business objectives.
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