Program Concept

Programs are plain more complex then procedures since, opposite to these that only indicate in general features the actions to develop and the performance deadlines, programs also indicate the results that should be achieved, the rules to respect, the steps that should be given, the necessary resources, a financial budget and still other elements that are needed to obtain the programmed results. Many times are elaborated sub-programs that are part of a program of bigger dimension. For example, a development program of a new line of products includes, generally, several sub-programs, among which an investigation and development program, a manufacturing program, a selection and recruitment program, a training and coaching program and a commercialization program. One of the most used techniques to trace a program is PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique), which consist on a graphic formed by a net of events needed for the performance of the project, with the indication of sequences and performance deadlines. In PERT can also be indicated the programmed costs for each event.

 

 

Translated from Portuguese by Susana Saraiva, Portuguese-English and English-Portuguese translation specialist. Contact: spams@sapo.pt.