What is a PMO?

The Project Management Office (PMO) is a service organization created for the specific purpose of centralizing and managing projects as well as implementing policies and procedures relating to Project Management “Best Practices”.

The mission of the Project Management Office is to implement and support the Project Management methodology in order to not only effectively manage projects so that project objectives are met but also to ensure that all projects are aligned with the strategic corporate goal for maximizing return on investment.

A successful PMO is one in which there are established standardized processes, procedures, tools, training and support functions. This sets a strong foundation for the successful management of strategic project initiatives.

Why would you need a PMO?

The ideal operating state of any company is when all of the initiatives within the organization are strategically aligned with the corporate goals.

In other words, all the projects in all departments must produce a deliverable that not only drives the organization closure to its objective but also ensures focus on the core business of the organization.
A common misconception is that by implementing a PMO the organization will save money. This is not always the case. In most cases, what a successful PMO does is monitors and keeps checks on wasteful resources and efforts (projects) that cause cost over-runs.

Once the PMO and the associated processes have matured, having a standard Project Management methodology does generate cost savings.

As a final point, when the PMO identifies and mitigates risks by anticipating project risks before they occur, it decreases costs associated with unknown risks.

PMO Areas of Excellence:

To further the development of the company as a whole as well as the Project Management Office, the PMO will hold regular training seminars for anyone in the company wishing to learn Project Management or increase their skills in any of the nine areas of Project Management:

1. Integration Management
2. Scope Management
3. Time Management
4. Cost Management
5. Quality Management
6. Risk Management
7. Communications Management
8. Human Resource Management
9. Procurement Management

The most important factor to any project’s success is communication. The PMO will facilitate effective communications within project teams. This will not only ensure that everyone is well informed but also communications help manage expectations, identify potential risks and foster better team collaboration. Maintaining Project Management site and providing updates on project will also be the responsibility of the PMO.

We will provide your organization with:

1. Collecting Expectations
2. Defining PMO Charter
3. Implementing PMO Best Practices, Policies, and Procedures
4. Staff Development and Training
5. PMO performance reporting

Next Steps:

If your organization is contemplating a PMO, contact us and we will be happy to partner with your organization and help you implement an efficient Project Management Office using our proven implementation methodology. We look forward to hearing from you.