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Accelerate programme or project

Accelerate programme or project

Accelerate programme or project

(OP)
Hello,

A client has asked me to reduce the duration of a project.  I referred to it as accelerating the project in an e-mail.  In his reply to my e-mail, he referred to it, in bold, as accelerating the programme.

Naturally, I will use what ever language the client uses, but from an English language perspective, which term should be used?

Cheers.

RE: Accelerate programme or project

Those damn Brits can be annoyingly picky sometimes.


For you it's just a project. Probably one of many running through your company.

For your client, the project may be just a part of his overall programme.

Program Management often involves managing a group of related projects.

RE: Accelerate programme or project

This is probably very situation specific language.

The fact he said 'programme' implies British English, not American.

Some organization may make a distinction between projects & programs.  For instance, 'project' might be part of a larger programme, which consists of multiple projects.

In the general context of 'a package of work' then they're more or less interchangeable.   

Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: Accelerate programme or project

(OP)
You are both right; he is English, but so am I as we work in th UK.  I think he was just being a little picky.

RE: Accelerate programme or project

I guess to some project is something that involves physical construction. A programme may just be schedule(time table?) or master planning, for example.

Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com

RE: Accelerate programme or project

(OP)
I guess my question is, when you reduce the duration of a project, do you

1) accelerate the project
2) accelerate the programme
3) either is acceptable
4) neither is acceptable

with the terms taking their normal meaning in a project management context.

I use the term "accelerate" as it is the term used in the contract we use, although from a engineering point of view, it feels incorrect.

RE: Accelerate programme or project

It's all semantic at end of the day and may depend on what is actually being "accelerated" or "shortened".

This may be what in the USA is called "fast tracking" a project. Where you can reduce the overall duration of a project by making some pre-construction decisions faster, yet leave the construction duration the same. It may also involve pre-ordering long lead items early, etc.

Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com

RE: Accelerate programme or project

rcooper, I grew up in the UK and worked there for the first few years of my career.

I don't recall any industry wide specific differentiation between project and programme in the context as you've explained it.

It may be a company/organization differentiation or the like.

Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: Accelerate programme or project

"programme" vs "program" ... nits to be picked !

RE: Accelerate programme or project

To Americans, a programme is a schedule.  The schedule is something which can be accelerated, but the project can only be changed in scope.

RE: Accelerate programme or project

How about "Hurry up the damn thing"

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