SAP Portfolio and Project Management (SAP PPM) is a comprehensive solution that supports the planning, execution, and monitoring of projects and portfolios within an organization. One of the key capabilities of SAP PPM is Program Management, which allows organizations to manage related projects collectively to achieve strategic business objectives.
This article guides you through the essential steps and considerations involved in Configuring SAP PPM for Program Management to enable effective oversight and control over complex program structures.
Program Management in SAP PPM refers to the coordinated management of multiple related projects that are aligned to achieve a broader strategic goal or business benefit. Programs provide a higher-level framework where resources, budgets, timelines, and risks across projects can be monitored and managed holistically.
Before configuring SAP PPM for program management, ensure the following prerequisites:
In SAP PPM, a Program is a special type of project used to group related projects. You need to configure the project types to accommodate programs.
Create a Program Project Profile:
Use transaction SPRO → SAP Portfolio and Project Management → Project Types → Define project profiles that represent programs.
Set Program-Specific Attributes:
Customize fields such as status profiles, allowed project categories, and attributes specific to program management.
Programs are linked with constituent projects through project relationships. Define the hierarchy and relationship types.
Use Project Relationship Management to define:
Ensure relationship types support aggregation of progress, cost, and milestones.
Programs typically require consolidated financial planning and resource allocation.
Effective program management depends on visibility and reporting.
Configure program dashboards to show aggregated KPIs such as:
Use SAP Business Warehouse (BW) or SAP Analytics Cloud integration for advanced reporting.
Program management often involves multi-level approvals and workflow processes.
Use SAP PPM’s workflow framework to define:
Integrate with SAP Business Workflow for seamless process automation.
To align programs with strategic objectives:
Configuring SAP PPM for Program Management transforms how organizations manage complex initiatives by providing a unified view of related projects, improving coordination, and enabling better strategic alignment. By carefully setting up program structures, relationships, financials, and workflows, companies can harness the full power of SAP PPM to deliver successful programs that drive business value.