🧭 How Projects, Programs & Big Bets Come Together
What It Means for Engineers and TPMs!
In a fast-moving tech org, it’s easy to get lost in tickets, standups, and sprint plans. But behind every feature, migration, or OKR lies a bigger system: a structure that connects individual work to company-defining priorities.
Let’s break down how projects, programs, and big bets are linked—and how engineers and TPMs help shape success at every level.
🛠️ Project: The Build Zone
What it is: A scoped, trackable unit of engineering work—like launching a new endpoint, rewriting a module, or rolling out an experiment.
You as an engineer:
Bring technical clarity to how something gets built.
Estimate effort, flag risks, and collaborate with EMs and TPMs.
Push code, review thoughtfully, and raise blockers early.
How TPMs help:
Clarify scope, owners, and timelines.
Track dependencies and unblock external issues.
Keep status transparent and aligned to the broader roadmap.
Why it matters: Projects are where real progress happens. When you execute well, you de-risk the roadmap.
🔄 Program: The Collaboration Layer
What it is: A multi-team effort, like refactoring a shared library or executing a compliance milestone. Programs connect multiple projects together.
You as an engineer:
Offer deep context on what your service needs.
Help define what success looks like in your domain.
Collaborate cross-functionally—this is where your design docs may intersect with unfamiliar systems.
How TPMs help:
Define the shared goals and coordination structure.
Create rituals (syncs, reviews, dashboards) that keep all teams aligned.
Manage interlocks and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Why it matters: Programs succeed when teams share ownership. Your input ensures tradeoffs and timelines are grounded in reality.
🌌 Big Bet: The North Star
What it is: A multi-quarter strategic priority. Think launching a new product line or transforming infra for AI-readiness.
You as an engineer:
Advocate for scalable solutions that will last beyond the quarter.
Offer feedback that shapes early direction (even if the code comes later).
Push for good abstractions—these influence velocity org-wide.
How TPMs help:
Connect executive vision to programs and engineering reality.
Structure progress reviews, investment decisions, and roadmap visibility.
Ensure the right tradeoffs are being made across teams and timelines.
Why it matters: Big bets are rare opportunities. They shift how teams operate for years. Engineering insight early in the process prevents brittle long-term decisions.
🧠 Final Thought: Your Work Doesn’t Just Ship Code—It Shapes Strategy
From project tickets to long-term architecture, your voice carries weight. Understanding how your work fits into the broader system can sharpen your impact.
And your TPM? They’re there to amplify that impact—by clearing obstacles, surfacing your progress, and aligning the org behind what matters most.
So next time you’re coding a small feature, remember: you’re also helping steer the mountain.