Program
A program is a coordinated collection of related projects managed together to realize the business outcomes described in the Program Vision Statement. Its Prioritized Program Backlog consolidates and sequences the Prioritized Product Backlogs from all projects within the program.
Key Points
- Groups related projects under unified management to achieve shared business outcomes.
- Guided by the Program Vision Statement, which defines the intended benefits and direction.
- The Prioritized Program Backlog aggregates and orders items from each project's Prioritized Product Backlog.
- Enables coordination of dependencies, benefit realization, and governance across projects.
Example
A retailer launches an omnichannel transformation program that includes separate projects for e-commerce, a mobile app, CRM integration, and warehouse automation. The program team maintains a Prioritized Program Backlog that combines and orders features from each project's Prioritized Product Backlog, ensuring cross-project dependencies and benefits are delivered in the right sequence.
PMP Example Question
In an agile program with several related projects, what is the main purpose of the Prioritized Program Backlog?
- To consolidate and rank work across all projects so the program delivers its intended benefits.
- To list daily tasks for each team member across all projects.
- To record time entries for all project resources in one place.
- To store only cross-project risks and issues.
Correct Answer: A — Consolidated, prioritized cross-project work to achieve program outcomes
Explanation: The Prioritized Program Backlog rolls up and sequences items from each project's Prioritized Product Backlog to align delivery with the program's vision and benefits.
