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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

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