Creating and Managing Programs

A program is a collection of related projects designed to manage a larger initiative that is too complex for a single project. Advantages of using programs include better organization and structure for projects, and ability to report on an entire group of projects rather than each one individually.

This article includes:

• Creating a Program
• Managing your program's Settings
• Adding projects to Programs
• Viewing your Program
• Related articles

Creating a Program

Programs are created by Admins or users permissioned for Program access. To learn about granting program access to your team, check out Adding Program Team Members.

Creating a program from Programs

Programs contain projects and therefore reside under Projects within Forecast. 

To create a program from Programs

• 1. Click Projects in the top bar.
  2. Select Programs from the dropdown.
  3. Click Create Program. 
  4. Enter the name of the Program (mandatory) and change the ID (optional).
  5. Select the color (optional) and set the Dates that it will run for.
  6. Add a description to the Program (optional).
  7. Click Create. 

Creating a program using Create

Programs may also be created using Create. Programs appear in the Create menu for Admins or users permissioned with Manage programs.  More information on program user permissions can be found in Adding Program Team Members.

To create a Program using Create 

1. 1. Click Create at the top right.
   2. Select Program.
   3. Enter the name of the Program (mandatory) and change the ID (optional).
   4. Select the color (optional) and set the Dates that it will run for.
   5. Add a description to the Program (optional).
   6. Click Create. 

Managing your program's Settings

Once a program is created, review its Settings to ensure the program is configured correctly, including its budget and team. A program's General settings are accessible to Program Owners while Program Users have access to view the Team page. For more information on managing a program's team, see Adding Program Team Members.

To access a Program's Settings

1. Click on Projects from the top bar.
2. Select Programs from the dropdown.
3. Click on Settings.
4. General includes Program Details, Program budget settings, and Delete Program*.
   • Adjust program dates, Stage and add the program's Client in Program Details. 
     
   • View or change the program's budget in Program budget settings. 
   • Delete Program*
     
     
     *Note: Programs can be deleted by Program Owners. Deleting a program does not delete its projects, however all relations across the projects are removed including access to projects granted from within the program. Deleting a program is final and cannot be undone. 
5. Team includes the Program Team members and their assigned Program Role.
   • Add or manage program team members here. Learn how to permission users and manage your program's team in Adding Program Team Members.
     
     
     

Adding projects to Programs

Once a program is created the Program Owner can add existing projects to the Program or create new projects directly within the program. 

Creating a new project in a Program

Program Owners can create projects from within a program. 

To create a project in a Program

1. Click Projects in the top bar.
2. Select Programs from the dropdown.
3. Open the program.
4. In Overview, click Create Project.
5. Enter the new project's details, then click Save and Continue. 
   

Adding existing projects to a Program

Existing projects can be added to a program by the Program Owner. 

To add an existing project to a Program

1. Click Projects in the top bar.
2. Select Programs from the dropdown.
3. Open the program.
4. In Overview, click Add project.
5. Select the projects to add to the program. It is possible to select more than one project. 
6. Once all projects are selected, click Add.
   

Viewing your Program

Program Owners and Program Users have access to the program's Overview, Financials and Timeline. Program Owners have full access to the program's while Program Users may have limited visibility over the program's financials based on their permissions. To learn more about permissioning users for program access see, Adding Program Team Members. 

Viewing your Program's Overview

Overview provides program details including start and end dates, client and stage as well as a list of all projects in the program. 

Viewing your Program's Financials

Program Financials shows the overall profitability of the program, the revenue recognized to date, the program's value of service and the project budget breakdown.

Viewing your Program's Timeline

Timeline provides a holistic view of all projects within the program. Ensure all projects are on track or make adjustments as needed. For more information on using Timeline within Forecast, see Viewing your Project Timeline.

Related Articles

• About Program Management
• Adding Program Team Members
• Reviewing your Program's Budget