Managing multiple projects within a program can be overwhelming without clearly visualizing timelines and dependencies. A program roadmap helps teams track progress, align stakeholders and ensure strategic goals are met. This Excel program roadmap template simplifies scheduling by offering a structured way to oversee various projects in one view, making program management more efficient.
Why You Need a Program Roadmap Template
An Excel Gantt chart roadmap provides a structured way to track multiple projects within a program. It offers a visual timeline that helps identify dependencies, key milestones and potential scheduling conflicts. With this template, program managers can improve coordination, optimize resource allocation and ensure that projects stay aligned with strategic objectives. The simplicity and flexibility of Excel make it a practical tool for teams of all sizes, eliminating the need for expensive project management software.
However, while this program roadmap template for Excel can help visualize the schedules of multiple projects, you’ll need a robust project management software such as ProjectManager to plan, schedule and monitor programs. ProjectManager has a suite of fully-featured program management tools such as Gantt chart roadmaps, project portfolio management dashboards and reports, timesheets and workload management charts which help create program schedules, allocate resources, track costs and report progress to stakeholders. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.
When to Use a Program Roadmap Template
A program roadmap is essential during the planning phase to align project schedules, allocate resources and identify dependencies before execution begins. It provides clarity on timelines and ensures stakeholders have a shared understanding of program goals, reducing risks and improving coordination.
During an ongoing program, a roadmap helps audit performance by tracking progress against planned milestones. It enables program managers to identify delays, adjust schedules and reallocate resources proactively. Regular roadmap updates ensure teams remain agile and responsive to project challenges.
Who Should Use This Free Program Roadmap Template?
This program roadmap template is ideal for PMOs, program managers and project portfolio managers overseeing multiple projects. It helps them maintain visibility into project timelines, dependencies and resource allocation. Organizations managing large-scale initiatives can use this tool to align teams, track deliverables and ensure strategic objectives are met.
Whether you’re managing internal programs or client projects, this program roadmap template for Excel simplifies coordination and decision-making across complex project portfolios.
How to Use This Program Roadmap Template
This program roadmap template simplifies managing multiple projects by providing a clear visual structure. Using its Gantt chart format, you can organize tasks, set durations, identify dependencies and highlight milestones. Follow these steps to effectively utilize the template and ensure your program stays on track, from initial task listing to monitoring key deliverables.
1. List Project Tasks
Start by listing all projects and their corresponding tasks in the provided rows. As an example, let’s list the project tasks of four related manufacturing projects that make up a program.
Project A: Production Line Setup
- Task #1: Install conveyor belts
- Task #2: Calibrate machinery
- Task #3: Set up safety protocols
- Task #4: Conduct trial runs
- Task #5: Approve for operations
Project B: Raw Material Procurement
- Task #1: Identify suppliers
- Task #2: Negotiate contracts
- Task #3: Place orders
- Task #4: Inspect deliveries
- Task #5: Approve materials
Project C: Product Development
- Task #1: Design prototype
- Task #2: Source components
- Task #3: Assemble prototype
- Task #4: Conduct testing
- Task #5: Finalize specifications
Project D: Quality Assurance Program
- Task #1: Develop QA procedures
- Task #2: Train staff
- Task #3: Implement pilot QA checks
- Task #4: Review results
- Task #5: Approve QA framework
This structure ensures a clear understanding of each project and its corresponding tasks. Here’s how these tasks and projects look like in the template.
2. Visualize Project Tasks
Insert rounded rectangles in each task lane to represent individual tasks. Adjust the size of the rectangles to correspond to task durations on the timeline columns. For example, a longer rectangle would indicate a task spanning multiple weeks, providing a clear visual representation of the program master schedule.
3. Identify Task Dependencies
Use arrows to connect tasks that depend on each other. For example:
- In Project A, “Calibrate machinery” (Task #2) depends on “Install conveyor belts” (Task #1).
- In Project B, “Inspect deliveries” (Task #4) depends on “Place orders” (Task #3).
- In Project C, “Conduct testing” (Task #4) depends on “Assemble prototype” (Task #3).
- In Project D, “Review results” (Task #4) depends on “Implement pilot QA checks” (Task #3).
These arrows highlight how tasks are interconnected, helping users prioritize and avoid bottlenecks during execution.
4. Identify Milestones
Add milestones using the dedicated lane at the top of the chart. Use a pentagon arrow icon to represent key dates or deliverables, such as project deadlines or program completion points. Milestones provide a quick overview of critical achievements throughout the program.
How to Manage Programs with ProjectManager
Templates are useful, but not the best way to manage projects. Using static templates to manage dyanmic programs is not efficient. Program managers prefer program management software. Templates need to be manually updated. Software does that automatically and more. ProjectManager is an award-winning project and portfolio management software that’s ideal for program management and project portfolio management (PPM) thanks to its robust planning, scheduling and tracking features. Here’s a quick overview of how it can help manage a program.
Create Powerful Program Roadmaps
ProjectManager’s Gantt chart view can be utilized as a PPM roadmap capable of showing the timelines of multiple projects and programs from a high-level view. In addition to that, program managers can then zoom into each project and manage tasks, allocate resources, monitor costs and generate project status and progress reports with other tools such as task lists, kanban boards, online timesheets and workload management charts. The best part is that all of these tools automatically sync with each other, so any changes will be reflected in the PPM roadmap.
Use Real-Time Program Management Dashboards
In addition to the program management tools mentioned above, ProjectManager offers a variety of program management dashboards that help users verify the status of their programs at a glance. These dashboards display task progress, workload distribution, cost tracking and scheduling information which alert program managers if there are cost overruns, delayed timelines or any other issues.
Allocate Resources and Track Program Costs
Any of ProjectManager’s project planning and scheduling views, such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists and project calendars have features to assign tasks to team members, allocate non-human resources and track their costs. Resource utilization and program costs can then be monitored using the PPM dashboards, project management reports or online timesheets.
More Free Program Management Templates
We have over 100 free project management templates for Excel, Word and Google Sheets in our library. Here are some that can help manage programs along with this program roadmap template.
Multiple Project Tracking Template
This multiple project tracking template can help visualize important aspects of multiple projects in one place, such as task priority levels, due dates and costs. It can also compare planned vs. actual project results to determine cost and schedule variance.
KPI Dashboard Template
This KPI dashboard allows organizations to monitor the performance of multiple projects with tables and charts that show project timelines, resources, resource utilization and monthly revenue and expenses.
Risk Register Template
This risk register template allows program managers to log the risks that might affect projects and enter details such as potential impact, risk mitigation response, status and indicate who’s responsible for monitoring and resolving them.
Program Management Video
In the video below, Jennifer Bridges, professional project manager (PMP) explains the basics of program management.
Related Program Management Content
Managing a program can be overwhelming for both beginner and experienced program managers, which is why we’ve created a library of program management blogs, guides, templates and ebooks. Here are some of them.
- Program Management: The Ultimate Guide
- How to Make a Program Management Plan (Free Templates Included)
- What Is a Program Roadmap? (Example and Template Included)
- Project vs. Program Management: Key Differences
- What Is a Program Manager? (Job Description Included)
ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestles and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.