What Great Program Managers Do Better

Dr. Ginger Levin is a senior consultant, author, and educator in the portfolio, program and project management fields with almost 50 years of experience. She is certified as a PMP (R) and PgMP (R). She was the second person in the world to receive the PgMP. In 2014, she won PMI's Eric Jenett Award. In addition, Dr. Levin is an Adjunct Professor for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where she teaches in its M.S. in Project Management Program, and for SKEMA University, France, in its doctoral program in project management. In consulting, she has served as the Program or Project Manager in numerous efforts for Fortune 500 and public sector clients, including Genentech, Cargill, Abbott Vascular, UPS, Citibank, the Food and Drug Administration, General Electric, SAP, EADS, John Deere, TRW, New York City Transit Authority, the U.S. Joint Forces Command, and the Food and Drug Administration. Prior to her work in consulting, she held positions of increasing responsibility with the U.S. Government, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Personnel Management, and the General Accounting Office. Dr. Levin is the editor, author, and co-author of approximately 20 books and is a series editor on advanced books in portfolio and program management for CRC Press. She presents regularly to the Project Management Institute and other organizations throughout the world. Dr. Levin received her doctorate in Information Systems Technology and Public Administration from The George Washington University and received the Outstanding Dissertation Award for her research on large organizations.

Why Look at Great Programs? It Is the People Not the Program. The Power of the Vision. Do What You Say. Proactive, Not Reactive. High Expectations for Your Stakeholders. What or Who Is the Key Value? Focus on Customers First. Facilitate an Atmosphere for Success. Turn Negatives into Positives. Assume Trust. Use Conflicts to Your Advantage. Know When to Avoid and When to Decide. Emphasize Innovation. Involve Stakeholders in Decision Making. When to Ask Permission and When to Ask for Forgiveness. Put Yourself in the Organization's Leader's Position. What about Meetings, Regulations, and Reports? Clarify Your Values. Making a Difference.