You're facing resource conflicts between interrelated programs. How can you effectively resolve them?

To resolve resource conflicts between programs, first identify the shared resources causing conflicts. Engage in open dialogue with program leaders to understand their priorities and deadlines. Use a collaborative approach to negotiate a compromise, focusing on critical project needs and possible resource reallocation or optimization. If necessary, escalate to higher management for guidance. Document decisions made for transparency and future reference. Regularly review and adjust plans as needed

As a program manager facing conflicting priorities, collaborating with portfolio management is crucial. They can help set the right priorities based on each program’s contribution to organizational objectives. Building strong relationships and maintaining open communication with other program managers is equally important, as networking and transparency often resolve issues faster than formal processes. Remember, it's all about achieving organizational benefits, not individual success.

When two programs compete for the same resource, like a key developer, take a step back and prioritize. For instance, if one project is near launch and the other is just starting, focus on the urgent one. Talk to your teams and understand their pressures, then shift resources to where they’re needed most. It’s about balancing immediate needs with long-term goals while keeping everyone motivated and on track.

Having a clear, transparent open communication regarding the resource limitation with an understanding of resource allocation might reduce the emerging conflicts. There should be a logic and factual data regarding the resource availability and its allocation to the project where the necessity is more and at times resource sharing can be done when and where its possible.

Technology can be your best friend when dealing with resource conflicts. I love using AI to manage resource conflicts. Tools like Asana’s AI-based resource management can track team availability in real-time and predict over-commitments. For example, Smartsheet’s AI features can analyze your team’s workload and suggest where resources need shifting to meet deadlines. These AI tools help you forecast future needs, balance workloads, and avoid potential bottlenecks before they slow down your programs.

This can be a prioritization issue. Programs often share resources and the managers responsible for the programs need to display effective communication skills to identify when this happens and collaborate towards a common resolution. For key staff resources, additional cross training and/or hiring temporary staff is likely to alleviate this conflict.