Comparing and Contrasting:

Program Management (PgM),

Project Management (PM), and
Construction Management (CM)

Christopher J. Toomey, PE
Senior Vice President
AECOM Global Programs
Why is this important?
• Growing complexity of work demands greater understanding
to avoid confusion amongst roles and responsibilities.
• Essential for those involved in developing infrastructure, at
all levels, understand unique requirements of various
levels of management
• Understand diverse qualifications and responsibilities.
• Owners often want vertical integration from broad programs,
through specific projects, to the delivery of the
construction services.
• Often there is confusion in terminology:
• Construction Project Management
• Program vs. Project Management
Common Elements for Success:

Leadership
Integrity
Communication
Technical Understanding
Valuing relationships
Understanding the Client
CM, PM, and PgM Represent a Hierarchy
of Responsibility
Program
Management:
Delivering Multiple
Projects

Project Management:
Delivering all Phases
of a project

Construction Management: Delivering the

Construction and Closeout of a project

But the differences are more complex.

A Framework for Comparison….
STAKEHOLDER Varied/External
Owner/Internal
ENGAGEMENT
Broad/
Organization Strategic
Program
Management
MANAGEMENT

IMPACT
FOCUS

Project
Construction Management
Management

Immediate/ Tactical
Deliverable
Unbounded/
Identifiable/
Quantifiable
RISK Unknown
Quantifying Risk gets more challenging
with unbounded variables