Craft your program strategy: Six-part series overview

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This brief overview stitches together our six-part craft your program strategy series so you can see how the pieces fit—from adopting a program mindset, to building a living charter and roadmap, aligning leadership, engaging services, orchestrating the four workstreams, and sustaining continuous improvement. Use it as your map to grow and maintain an identity program on SailPoint with confidence.

What you’ll learn

• Why a program mindset outlasts one-off projects and sets you up for long-term success.
• How to build—and keep updating—your program charter and roadmap.
• Which leaders, roles, and services accelerate outcomes and protect funding.
• How to plan the four core workstreams in phases and keep improving quarter after quarter.

Blog-by-blog overview

1) Program vs. project: set the tone

We start by shifting from “deliver this project” to “run a durable program.” Programs coordinate many efforts, evolve with the business, and keep wins from slipping after go-live. This framing helps you sequence multiple initiatives without losing the big picture.

Read: why program vs. project matters.

2) Charter + roadmap: define purpose, plan delivery

Your program charter clarifies scope, roles, metrics, and funding; your roadmap turns that intent into a phased plan with quick wins and longer bets. We show what belongs in each document and share templates to jumpstart your work.

Read: how a charter and roadmap guide your program.

For deeper roadmap guidance—including why it’s essential for alignment, funding, and stakeholder communication—see the companion articles Developing an identity security program roadmap and The importance of an identity security program charter (with downloadable templates).

3) The leadership triad: sponsor, program manager, steering committee

Identity programs thrive when the executive sponsor sets direction and unblocks funding, the program manager turns vision into milestones, and the steering committee pressure-tests scope and tracks KPIs. We offer meeting cadences, artifacts, and escalation paths that keep decisions crisp and momentum high.

Read: building a powerhouse leadership triad.

Need help staffing the broader team that supports the triad? Start with Program staffing considerations for common roles and time commitments.

4) Get the right help: SASP, Services, and Partners

Mix subscription guidance (SASP), targeted Expert Services, full-scope Professional Services, and certified partners to match your stage and budget. We explain when each fits best and how to blend them so you always have the right skills at the right time.

Read: choosing (and combining) SailPoint service offerings.

5) Orchestrate the four workstreams—by phase

Plan the flywheel across Identity, Connectivity, Data, and Security in sequenced waves. Identity definitions drive what you connect; connectivity feeds data; data powers controls; controls produce signals that refine identity and access models. We map quick wins, owners, and milestones for each phase.

Read: orchestrating the four identity workstreams with a phased approach.

For deep dives on each workstream, explore dedicated guides for Identity, Connectivity, Data, and Security.

6) Keep improving: cadence, scaling, and funding

Make your charter and roadmap “living” documents with quarterly refreshes, monthly steering checks, and executive briefings. Scale from a project squad to a dedicated identity team, and tie budget asks to measurable outcomes (KPI trends, risk reduction, cost avoidance).

Read: how to keep your identity security program improving.

For tactics on dollars and team design, see maintaining program funding and obtaining executive sponsorship.

How the series helps you grow

• Alignment & momentum: A clear charter and phased roadmap keep priorities stable, funding flowing, and stakeholders engaged.
• Ownership & governance: The leadership triad and steering cadence prevent scope creep, enable fast decisions, and preserve institutional memory.
• Capacity at the right time: Blending SASP, Services, and partners lets you cover skills gaps without over-hiring, accelerating safe delivery.
• Compounding value: The workstream flywheel turns data into better controls—and better controls into better data—so value compounds each quarter.
• Continuous improvement: Quarterly KPI reviews cue roadmap updates, staffing tweaks, and funding proposals tied to results—not just features.

In a nutshell / next steps

Don’t try to do everything at once. Anchor your program with a charter, plan in phases, empower your leadership triad, bring in help where it counts, and run the four workstreams like a flywheel. Then, inspect KPIs, adjust, and repeat—every quarter. Start now by drafting (or refreshing) your charter, aligning your next two phases on the roadmap, and scheduling your steering and executive touchpoints.

• Kick off with Blog 1, then continue through Blog 2, Blog 3, Blog 4, Blog 5, and Blog 6.
• Bookmark related resources such as charters, roadmaps, staffing, and funding.

Have a win or a lesson to share? Join the discussion in our community and help other teams accelerate their identity journeys.