• Perform an initial program assessment by defining the program objectives, requirements, and risks in order to ensure program alignment with the organization’s strategic plan, objectives, priorities, vision, and mission statement.
  • Establish a high-level road map with milestones and preliminary estimates in order to obtain initial validation and approval from the executive sponsor.
  • Define the high-level road map/framework in order to set a baseline for program definition, planning, and execution.
  • Define the program mission statement by evaluating the stakeholders’ concerns and expectations in order to establish program direction.
  • Evaluate the organization’s capability by consulting with organizational leaders in order to develop, validate, and assess the program objectives, priority, feasibility, readiness, and alignment to the organization’s strategic plan.
  • Identify organizational benefits for the potential program using research methods such as market analysis and high-level cost-benefit analysis in order to develop the preliminary program scope and define benefits realization plan.
  • Estimate the high level financial and nonfinancial benefits of the program in order to obtain/maintain funding authorization and drive prioritization of projects within the program.
  • Evaluate program objectives relative to regulatory and legal constraints, social impacts, sustainability, cultural considerations, political climate, and ethical concerns in order to ensure stakeholder alignment and program deliverability.
  • Obtain organizational leadership approval for the program by presenting the program charter with its high-level costs, milestone schedule and benefits in order to receive authorization to initiate the program.
  • Identify and evaluate integration opportunities and needs (for example, human capital and human resource requirements and skill sets, facilities, finance, assets, processes, and systems) within program activities and operational activities in order to align and integrate benefits within or across the organization.
  • Exploit strategic opportunities for change in order to maximize the realization of benefits for the organization.