In which HQP stage is a program considered to have few leading practices?

A program is considered to have few leading practices in the defining stage. This stage typically involves establishing the foundational elements of a program, such as defining its purpose, scope, and objectives. At this point, organizations are in the early stages of formulating their approach and may not yet have fully developed or implemented comprehensive best practices. Consequently, there are limited examples of established methods or leading practices to rely on for guidance.

During the adapting, underdeveloped, and managing stages, organizations either refine their practices, face significant challenges, or implement practices more robustly. In these later stages, organizations aim to enhance and improve their approaches, leading to a greater number of best practices emerging as they evolve their strategies and tools. Therefore, the defining stage is characterized by foundational exploration and initial planning, resulting in fewer established practices compared to subsequent stages.