Program Management is gaining recognition as a domain in its own right. This is evident from the recent methodology and standard documents published by OGC and PMI respectively. There is widespread interest in these standards and methodologies. While we recognize that these are significant advances, we believe they do not address the core issue of Programme failure, which is the fit between Program Characteristics and Program Management design. The Program Management design comprises the Structure, Processes, Competencies and the Governance requirements for the Programme. An appropriate design is critical for effective Program execution and benefits delivery. An appropriate design needs to be cost-effective, but at the same time address the unique combination of the factors that drive Program complexity.
A careful study of Program Management domain reveals a set of distinct viable recursive systems. Projects and corresponding operational activities in the programme portfolio, coordination of inter and intra projects’ activities, overseeing of operations and coordination, continuous scanning of Program environment to identify opportunities and threats to the programme and steer the programme towards better adaptability and mechanisms to set directions and policy for program governance all constitute systems that are recursive and engaged in purposeful behavior in their respective environments while maintaining their identity. Based on this observation this paper takes Viable System Model (VSM) as framework to outline the design and control of Program management. It maps and adapts viable systems of VSM onto entire gamut of Program management and outlines the mechanisms to handle the Program complexity at every System level.

Veerendra K. Rai holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Management from IIT, Kharagpur and an MS in Computer Science from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) USA. He is working with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) since 1998. At TCS he has worked at Systems Engineering and Cybernetics Center, Artificial Intelligence group, and Software R&D group. His research interests include Systems thinking, Software project management and Program management, Requirements engineering, Software Engineering, Business rules and Information systems. He has a number of publications in these areas and is a life member of Systems Dynamics Society.

K Subramanian has around 19 years of experience with TCS. He has played key roles in IT systems development, Business consulting, Project management, Programme management and Operations management. He was responsible for TCS’ business operations at Australia / New Zealand for 5 years. His consulting and Programme management experience includes a number of Fortune 500 companies including IBM, American Express, GE Capital, Ford Motor Company, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Kellogg, ING and Johnson & Johnson. While in TCS, he has been trained in the application of Systems Engineering and Complexity Science to business problems. He conducts training courses in Programme Management, Risk and Contingency Management, and Systems Thinking. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and he is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He currently leads the Programme Management Practice in TCS.