While most resources and cost are probably at the component (project and non-project work) level and are thus managed there, the program level employs most or all of some resources for program management and governance. Necessary plans for efficiency and timeliness are in the program resource plan (Figure 5.8). It is prepared in the develop program infrastructure process in the Standard for Program Management—Second Edition (2008).
Program Resource Plan Instructions
The program resource plan includes the following:
Purpose: A brief introductory statement defining the purpose of the program resource plan, such as:
The program resource plan describes the resources required to manage the program. It includes methods to monitor and track resource use.
These program resources include more than human resources and con-sist of materials, tools, equipment, facilities, and finances that will be used
104 Implementing Program Management: Templates for Success
in the program. It also is important to recognize that this plan addresses resource use at the program level, not at the individual component level.
Although the plan is drafted early in the program, it is an iterative document that should be further refined, especially since the preliminary requirements regarding the resources probably will change as the program progresses.
In the Project Management Institute’s Standard for Program Management—
Second Edition (2008), the program resource plan is an output from the develop program infrastructure process and is an input to manage program resources and plan program risk management processes. This plan may require updates as a result of the manage program resources process.
Internal and external required resources: This section describes specific inter-nal and exterinter-nal, when appropriate, resources required for program success. It presents costs for each of these needed resources to assist in overall financial management and in determining the program’s financial framework.
Organizational influences: This section defines various organizational influ-ences that can impact the program team. It describes key procurement and personnel policies that may affect the acquisition of needed resources for the program. Also, it notes guidance on the appropriate use of program resources, such as depreciation or release of purchased equipment, sharing resources with other parts of the organization, or recurring costs of resources that are leased.
Methods to meet resource requirements: This section describes when and how resource requirements will be met in the program. It describes whether resources will be obtained internally or through procurements. It also describes the need to follow the issue escalation process should the program manager have difficulty acquiring needed resources to support the program.
Program Management Life Cycle: Program Setup Develop
Figure 5.8 Program resource plan.
The Program Setup Phase 105
Resource calendars: This section describes the necessary time frames for use of the program resources. These calendars can assist in development of the overall program schedule.
Tracking and monitoring: This section describes the methods to be used to track and monitor resource use throughout the program’s life cycle. Since change is inevitable in all programs, the need for certain resources may change, especially as new components become part of the program, and other components are transitioned or terminated.
Approvals: This section contains the written approval of the program resource plan by the program sponsor, program manager, program management office, members of the governance board, and other stakeholders.
Program resource Plan Template
<Insert Program Name>
Program Resource Plan
Program name:
Program manager: PM’s email address here as a hyperlink Program sponsor:
Actual start date:
Approved end date:
Program no.:
Revision history:
Business unit:
A. PurPoSe
A brief introductory statement defining the purpose of the resource management plan, such as:
The program resource plan describes the resources required to manage the program. It includes methods to monitor and track resource use.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
106 Implementing Program Management: Templates for Success
B. InTernAl AnD exTernAl requIreD reSourCeS
This section defines specific internal and external, when appropriate, resources required for program success. It also presents costs for each of these resources.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
C. orGAnIzATIonAl InFluenCeS
This section defines various organizational influences that can impact the pro-gram team’s resource requirements, such as personnel and procurement policies and procedures, guidance regarding depreciation or release of equipment, shar-ing resources within the organization, and recurrshar-ing costs of leased resources.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
D. MeThoDS To MeeT reSourCe requIreMenTS
This section describes when and how resource requirements will be met in the program.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
e. reSourCe CAlenDArS
This section describes the needed time frames for use of the program resources.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
F. TrACkInG AnD MonITorInG
This section describes the methods to be used to track and monitor resource use throughout the program’s life cycle.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
The Program Setup Phase 107
G. APProvAlS
This section contains the approval of the program resource plan by the program sponsor, program manager, program management office, members of the gover-nance board, and other key stakeholders.
SignatureSand date approval obtained
Program manager ____________________________________
Program sponsor ____________________________________
Program management office director ____________________________________
Governance board chairperson ____________________________________
Governance board member 1 ____________________________________
Governance board member 2 ____________________________________
Governance board member N ____________________________________
Stakeholder 1 ____________________________________
Stakeholder 2 ____________________________________
Stakeholder N ____________________________________