Currently if you create a report using a program as the source, only users who have at least viewer access to the source sheet on ALL of the projects created with the Control Center Blueprint can view the report. This creates a problem and misses a huge opportunity.
The problem is that this is just the Control Center Program owner and additional leads automatically. Yes you can add people in the Permissions and Sharing step of the blueprint builder, but what happens when someone new needs access? changing in the blueprint only apples to future projects.
Additionally Smartsheet is missing a powerful potential tool. If you changed program reports to work like traditional reports and allow access to viewers based on permissions of underlying sheets, it could be used to allow curated views to different groups of stakeholders. If people are assigned to multiple projects, it allows consolidated information without needing to dive into each project.
Examples in a scenario where you have a Program with a layer of Sub-Programs, each with a set of projects:
- You create a Program report showing the summary line from all projects. Sub Program Directors/ PMs could see at a glance the health, % complete, and timeline of all projects they are responsible for as they would be shared to project plans in their area of control.
- You can create a Current user filtered report of Tasks past due pointed at the project plan in a blueprint and share with all PMO assignees - they see at a glance all past due tasks and can provide comments and change % complete across all projects in one place, or use the Sheets column to go directly into the project plan to see context. The report can be grouped/sorted by project and also used as a chart on a "My Dashboard" with widgets set to current user view.
- Create a program report pointed at a RAID log grouped by project - PMS only see RAID items from RAID logs shared to them. If filtered by Submitter or Assigned to users can see all item at a glance and provide information.
- Point a program report at a project update sheet - users can give updates on all projects that are assigned to them.
