I agree wholehearted with the need to get with the programme. I’m finding however, one of the impediments might be finding programme managers who are not rebadged project managers. A different skill-set is often required, related to the ability to influence the strategic direction and the ability to implement change. How do you find such people?

There is no real certification that relates to the soft-skill ability. The MSP or PgMP certification relates more to the knowledge of a formal process or experience with multiple projects not about the ability to deliver strategy. The best programme managers in many ways are the up-and-coming managers who implement change and an MBA or business type qualification might be a better signal than a project management certification.

I’m actually developing a course to address this need but in the early days it won’t help much because people trying it out will be too junior. Only when it gets fully integrated into the Business School program will it have the desired effect, but that still won’t help the need right now to get initiatives managed at the programme level (and to a lessor extent at the portfolio level).