Improving Program Management in the Federal Government

In the spring of 2015, the Project Management Institute engaged the National Academy of Public Administration (the Academy) to develop a white paper about how to strengthen project and program management in the federal government. This six-week project was led by a three-member Panel of Academy Fellows with expertise in project and program management supported by a professional study team.

While the paper is concerned with strengthening both project and program management, its focus is on program management--the management of any large-scale, complex change initiatives. The paper recognizes and builds on past efforts to promote a program management approach in the areas of acquisition and information technology. However, the paper takes a broader view of program management as encompassing people, processes, and technology.