Jan 13, 20235 min read

7/100 - Project Manager vs. Program Manager vs Product Manager: What's the Difference?

When it comes to managing projects within an organization, among the various roles, common ones include the project manager, program manager, and the product manager. While these roles may seem similar with management responsibilities, they have some key differences that are important to understand.

In this blog post, we'll explore the differences between project manager, program manager, and product manager, and help you understand what each role entails and what skills and expertise are needed to succeed in each position.

Whether you're considering a career in project management or are simply looking to better understand the roles of these professionals within your organization, this post will provide you with a clear.

In the previous blog we looked at Project Inception and How to Set up a Team. In this blog, we will deep dive into understanding the key differences between these management roles, through the below topics:

Definitions of Project Manager, Program Manager, Product Manager
Project Manager vs. Program Manager vs Product Manager
Similarities between Project, Program and Product Managers
Product Manager Vs Product Owner

Definitions of Project Manager, Program Manager, Product Manager

Project Manager

"A project manager is responsible for the successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling, and closure of a project." The person assigned by the performing organization to lead the project team that is responsible for achieving the project objectives.

Program Manager

"A program manager is responsible for the overall management of a program, including the coordination of multiple related projects and ensuring that they align with the organization's broader goals." Leads the overall program, coordinating activities within the program (group of projects) to keep it on track.

Product Manager

"A product manager is responsible for the development and management of a product or product line within an organization, including defining the product vision and roadmap, gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, and working with cross-functional teams to bring the product to market."

Project Manager vs. Program Manager vs Product Manager

Here is a table comparing the differences between project manager, product manager, and program manager:

	Project Manager	Product Manager	Program Manager
Role	A professional responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing the completion of specific projects within an organization.	A professional responsible for the development and management of a product or product line within an organization.	A professional responsible for managing a group of related projects, coordinating them, and ensuring that they align with the organization's broader goals.
Scope	Focuses on the planning and execution of a single project.	Focuses on the development and management of a single product or product line.	Focuses on the management and coordination of multiple related projects.
Responsibility	Responsible for the day-to-day management of a project, including setting deadlines, allocating resources, and ensuring that the project is completed on time and within budget.	Responsible for defining the product vision and roadmap, gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, and working with cross-functional teams to bring the product to market.	Responsibles for the overall planning, execution, and delivery of multiple related projects, and for ensuring that they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
Role in decision making	Makes decisions related to the specific project they are managing.	Makes decisions related to the product or product line they are managing.	Makes decisions related to the overall direction and strategy of the program, and coordinates the decision-making processes of the individual project managers.
Skills	Project management skills, including the ability to plan and organize projects, allocate resources, and manage budgets.	Product management skills, including the ability to define and communicate the product vision, gather and prioritize product and customer requirements, and work with cross-functional teams.	Program management skills, including the ability to oversee multiple related projects, coordinate their activities, and align them with the organization's broader goals.
Education	A bachelor's degree is typically required, and many project managers hold a master's degree in a field such as business administration or project management. Various certifications available.	A bachelor's degree is typically required, and many product managers hold a master's degree in a field such as business administration or engineering. Various certifications available. Knowledge of Agile is typically required.	A bachelor's degree is typically required, and many program managers hold a master's degree in a field such as business administration or project management.
Level of authority	Project managers typically have authority over the specific project they are managing, but may not have authority over other projects or departments within the organization.	Product managers typically have authority over the product or product line they are responsible for, and may have some influence over related projects	Program managers typically have authority over all of the projects within the program they are managing, as well as the resources and budgets associated with those projects
Focus on results	Project managers are primarily focused on ensuring that the project they are managing is completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.	Product managers are primarily focused on the development and success of the product or product line they are responsible for	Program managers are primarily focused on the overall success of the program, which may involve managing multiple projects, products, or teams
Interactions with stakeholders	Project managers typically interact with stakeholders such as team members, clients, and vendors in order to plan and execute the project	Product managers may interact with a wider range of stakeholders, including customers, market research firms, and sales teams, in order to gather and prioritize product and customer requirements and bring the product to market.	Program managers may interact with even more stakeholders, including executives, board members, and other key decision-makers, in order to align the program with the organization's broader goals and objectives.

Project Manager Vs Program Manager - Differences and Similarities — Image by storyset on Freepik

Similarities between Project, Program and Product Managers

Despite the differences between project manager, program manager, and product manager, it is to be noted that there are several similarities between these roles. All three positions involve managing complex projects or products and working with cross-functional teams to achieve the goals of the project or product.

Leadership skills: All three roles involve leading and motivating teams of people, so strong leadership skills are important. This includes the ability to set clear goals and expectations, delegate tasks effectively, and provide support and guidance to team members.
Communication skills: All three roles also require excellent communication skills, as they involve interacting with a wide range of stakeholders, including team members, clients, vendors, and executives. This includes the ability to effectively convey information, listen actively, and negotiate and persuade others.
Problem-solving skills: Managing complex projects and dealing with a variety of challenges and problems that may arise. Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze situations, identify root causes, and develop and implement solutions, are therefore critical.
Organizational skills: All three roles require strong organizational skills, including the ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously. This may involve using project management tools and techniques, such as creating project schedules, allocating resources, and tracking progress.
Strategic thinking: All require a strategic mindset, as they involve making decisions that align with the organization's broader goals and objectives. This includes the ability to think critically and creatively, and to consider the long-term implications of different courses of action.
Setting goals and objectives: The three roles involve setting clear goals and objectives for the projects or products they are responsible for, and developing plans to achieve those goals.
Managing budgets and resources: All three roles involve managing budgets and resources in order to complete projects or deliver products within the constraints of time and cost. This may involve developing budgets, allocating resources, and tracking expenses.
Communicating with stakeholders: They involve communicating with a variety of stakeholders, including team members, clients, vendors, and executives, in order to keep them informed of progress and address any issues or concerns that may arise.
Managing risks and issues: All three roles involve identifying and mitigating risks and issues that may impact the project or product, and developing contingency plans as needed.
Tracking progress and performance: All three roles involve monitoring progress and performance against established goals and objectives, and using this information to make adjustments as needed to ensure that the project or product stays on track.
Leading and motivating teams: All three involve leading and motivating teams of people to achieve the goals of the project or product. This may involve providing support and guidance, setting clear expectations, and recognizing and rewarding good performance.

How a product owner is different from product manager — Image by master1305 on Freepik

Product Manager Vs Product Owner

This is a common question which comes up in many training sessions. Product manager and product owner are two roles that are often found in organizations that use agile methodologies for product development.

Product Managers are strategic and have overall responsibilities during a product development. Product Owner is a role in scrum and has a tactical role to play along with the scrum master. Some PMs can also perform the role of a Product Owner for a particular team, while leading overall product development and strategy.

The product owner is primarily responsible with bringing the product manager's vision to reality by directing the development team as to what to do next and how to do it. However, the product manager is accountable for the entire product management process, bringing the organization closer to its objectives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the roles of Project Manager, Program Manager, and Product Manager have significant differences as well as some similarities. Project Managers oversee specific initiatives, Program Managers coordinate multiple or related projects, and Product Managers are the product strategists. This article has explored these three roles in-depth and clearly outlined their differences and what it means to be successful in each one. If you'd like to explore more resources on project management as a whole, follow Program Strategy HQ.