In project management terms, a program is a group of related projects and activities that are managed together to deliver an overall goal. They can be part of a portfolio or stand-alone, but the goals of all of them must align with a company’s strategic objectives.
A program is an example of software in the sense that it combines information to perform a task. It contains a list of ingredients (called variables) and instructions (called statements) to perform a specific function. The computer then executes the instructions it receives from the program to complete the task.
Programming languages come in various types, including procedural, functional, and logical. Each has its own specific language rules for expressing ideas, as well as different levels of input datatypes. Generally, programming languages have been developed to allow for the expression of relationships among ideas directly in the code.
Some programs also include functions that carry out end-user commands. Examples of these programs are word processors, spreadsheets, and inventory and payroll systems. These programs are usually called “applications,” and they run on top of system software, which controls the computer’s internal functioning and directs the computer to execute commands given by the user.
There are many other kinds of programs, including network software and device drivers. These programs control a computer’s peripherals, such as monitors and printers, as well as the communications that connect it to other computers in a network.
Another kind of program is a mandatory program, which is a set of work that must be done in order to stay in business or comply with regulations. These may be small or large scale initiatives, but they’re all about keeping the business running and ensuring everyone stays in a job.
It’s also a good way of bringing people together who are otherwise spread out around the business, and providing them with a common framework to follow. It’s the kind of thing that will only be successful if the program is backed up by senior leadership and is well supported by all the teams involved.
It’s a great way of getting buy in and avoiding the “we’re changing but we don’t have the budget” arguments that are so common in most organisations. It’s a lot easier to get buy in on a mandatory program than on a purely voluntary one, because it is easy to see the benefits and they are something that will be expected.