Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to enable a program manager to engage in collaborative alliances. It includes the performance criteria required to demonstrate competency in forging alliances with other organisations to facilitate attainment of program benefits.
Collaborative alliances are significantly different in focus and content from commercial contracts in that the parties operate as partners with shared interests and a higher degree of joint decision-making. However, collaborative alliances are often formalised with the use of a legally binding contract. Collaborative agreements often involve organisations that are part of the same legal entity; business units of the same corporation or departments of the same government.
A program is defined as a set of interrelated projects, each of which has a project manager. 'Multiple projects', or 'a program of projects', refers to a number of related projects managed by the same person as a program to achieve organisational objective/s.
It applies to individuals who are program managers and those managing a suite of projects (a program). They operate within assigned authority levels, are responsible for their own performance, program outcomes, and sometimes the performance of others.
Individuals in this role may be operating within an organisation, a business or as a consultant.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Identify opportunities for collaboration and develop collaborative alliances | 1.1 Identify and evaluate opportunities for collaborative alliances according to organisational and program objectives 1.2 Identify and evaluate potential collaborators in line with relevant organisational policies 1.3 Initiate and develop relationships with potential collaborators according to relevant organisational policies and procedures |
2. Establish collaborative agreements | 2.1 Initiate, negotiate, agree and document a collaborative approach with parties which adhere to organisational policies and relevant legal requirements 2.2 Approve and regularly review each formal agreement to ensure continuation of envisaged value and potential need for changes and additions, in accordance with relevant organisational policies and procedures 2.3 Develop collaboration plans for each agreement to support implementation |
3. Support the evolution of collaborative agreements | 3.1 Monitor and nurture relationships with collaborators to sustain commitment 3.2 Assess performance of all parties to an agreement against organisational and program objectives and expected results, and address variances 3.3 Make changes to agreements as required in accordance with organisational policies and procedures |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance but not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Identifies and interprets information from a range of sources |
Writing | Prepares and modifies agreements and plans using appropriate language and format |
Oral Communication | Participates in verbal exchanges using language and features appropriate to the audience Uses active listening and questioning techniques to confirm understanding |
Interact with others | Uses interpersonal skills to negotiate agreements with diverse stakeholders Invests time and energy in building and maintaining effective working relationships |
Get the work done | Plans, implements and monitors tasks and activities required to achieve collaborative alliance goals Analyses and evaluates options to make decisions about possible alliances Evaluates outcomes to identify improvement opportunities |
Sectors
Management and Leadership – Project Management