ABSTRACT
A programme is intended to create new value for its stakeholders and the organization but there are always negative uncertainties that can waste a large amount of investment in money, talented human resources and time if the programme fails. There are three stages in managing programme uncertainties. Stage one defines the programme and its goals. The second stage is the process of designing individual projects and the relationships among them. Exposed uncertainty events are dealt with in the final stage of programme execution. Accordingly, for execution phase tasks the uncertainties are restricted to those that are assessed as controllable or allowable in principle. In practice, unexpected large and small uncertain events occur and management must deal with them. Programme objectives are expressed as a programme mission in general. At the initial stage the mission starts as a form of rather abstract and qualitative concept or desire, such as development of a new market or enhancement of competitiveness.
