Using Program Management and Architecture to Manage Fundamental Change in Business Organizations (Thinking of Business Organizations as Systems)

	Program Management Office

by Frank Winters

November 19, 2001

This article, Part Two of a two-part series, provides an overview of a powerful framework for managing corporate change. The key is to use the principles of program management and architecture as a means of capturing, communicating and controlling the difficult thinking and actions needed in order to change complex business organizations. If these tools are not used, others must be to accomplish the same purpose--clear communication and a framework for management. Otherwise there will be the frustration of being struck and going in circles. This is not to say it's impossible to manage change by lurching from one uncomfortable position to another, nor is it impossible to manage change with the overhead of constantly reworking what has already been decided--it's just less efficient and a lot less rewarding for all concerned.

(In Part One of this article series we discussed the use of Program Management and an architectural framework for managing change.