Stefan,

Here is the technical answer to your question which explains it very clearly.

Project Manager: Assigned by the performing organization to achieve the project objectives.

Program Manager: Responsible for managing related projects in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually. Program managers interact with each project manager to provide support and guidance on individual projects.

Best regards.

I don't think the answer is a black and white as yes or no. If you look to the capabilty descriptions published by - say - PMI on the two roles you'll see that these days many project managers are called upon to act as programme managers in certain contexts.

On major projects they are not the same role. A single individual is needed just to look after the programme with all the inter-related tasks and slippages and accelerations occuring on a constant basis. This individual would be the programme manager. The project manager would then have more of an overview role, co-ordinating and leading the various elements of the project management team.

On smaller projects, the is usually not enough work to keep a progrmame manager working at an efficient level, even if there time is split between projects. In this case the project manager will usually look after the programme as part of her duties and therefore will take on the role of a programme manager as well as other tasks.