The Ultimate Guide to Project Management Office

The Ultimate Guide to Project Management Office

Positive momentum in your company can lead to new opportunities and growth. It can also foster a sense of community and belonging among employees. And it can be a powerful force for good in your business.

But with opportunity and growth comes change, and with change comes the potential for disorder. Successful companies need to find a way to keep the good parts of momentum alive and moving while avoiding the bad.

One way to do this is to create or hire a – Project Management Office (PMO).

A PMO can bring order to chaos, help prioritize projects, manage resources, and track progress. It can be the organizing force that keeps your company moving forward and on the right track.

In this post, we’ll look at what a PMO is and what it does, as well as the many types of PMO’s and some pointers for establishing one.

What Is a Project Management Office?

A PMO is a department inside or outside of an organization that is in charge of standardizing, coordinating, and controlling all aspects of the company’s project management procedures.

The main objectives of a PMO are to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and according to predetermined quality standards.

A PMO can also be responsible for ensuring that projects are aligned with the company’s strategic goals and objectives.

The role of a PMO can be divided into three primary functions:

• Project management support
• Project management oversight
• Project management training

Project management support is the most common function of a PMO. In this capacity, the PMO provides Project Managers (PMs) with templates, tools, best practices, and other resources to help them plan, execute, and deliver their projects successfully.

The PMO can also be responsible for project management oversight, which entails reviewing and auditing project plans, progress reports, and deliverables to ensure that they meet the quality standards set by the company.

Last but not least, the PMO can provide Project Management Training to help employees learn how to effectively manage projects.

Types of Project Management Offices

There are three main types of PMO’s: support, directive, and controlling.

Supportive PMO’s provide services and training to project managers and teams to help them complete their projects successfully. Supportive PMOs do not make decisions for the project managers; they simply offer guidance and resources.

Directive PMO’s are more hands-on. They establish project management best practices and procedures that project managers must follow. Directive PMO’s also typically have the authority to make decisions for the project manager, such as which tool to use or which methodology to follow.

Controlling PMO’s are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and according to predetermined quality standards. Controlling PMO’s typically have a staff of auditors who monitor projects and report their findings to the PMO.

This still begs the question: which one is the best for you and your situation?

The type of PMO that is right for your organization will depend on the size and scope of your projects, as well as your company culture. If you have large, complex projects, you may need a controlling PMO to ensure that they are completed on time and within budget. If you have smaller projects or projects that are less complex, a supportive PMO may be all you need.

Internal vs. external PMOs

Internal PMO’s are created and staffed by employees of the organization. External PMO’s are contracted from outside the organization.

The main difference between internal and external PMOs is who staffs them. Internal PMO’s are created and staffed by employees of the organization, while external PMO’s are contracted from outside the organization.

Another difference is that internal PMOs are usually more expensive to set up and maintain than external PMOs. This is because you have to pay the salaries of the employees who work in the PMO, as well as the overhead costs associated with running a department. External PMOs, on the other hand, are typically less expensive because you only have to pay for the services they provide.

Which one is right for your organization? That depends on your needs, budget, and preferences.

Some organizations prefer to have an internal PMO because they feel it allows for better communication and coordination between the PMO and the rest of the organization. Other organizations prefer to contract an external PMO because it is less expensive and they feel it allows the PMO to be more objective.

The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to internal or external PMOs. It all depends on your specific situation.

Who works within the PMO?

The Project Management Office is typically staffed by Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and Business Analysts.

Project Managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and according to predetermined quality standards.

Project Coordinators assist Project Managers in this effort by helping to organize and schedule project tasks.

Business Analysts work with Project Managers to understand the needs of the business and how those needs can be met through specific project deliverables.

The Project Management Office is a vital part of any organization that undertakes projects. By coordinating and managing projects, the PMO ensures that they are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

The Benefits of a Project Management Office (PMO)

There are many benefits of having a PMO, including:

• Improved communication among project managers and team members
• Increased transparency of project status
• Better coordination of resources
• Improved quality of deliverables
• Reduced project costs
• Reduced project risk

A PMO can bring many benefits to your organization, but it’s important to remember that a PMO is not a cure-all for every problem. A PMO will not fix underlying issues such as poor communication or lack of trust. But if these issues are addressed, a PMO can help you take your organization’s project management to the next level.

How to set up a Project Management Office

There are six steps you need to take to set up a Project Management Office:

1. Define the purpose of the PMO
2. Determine the scope of the PMO
3. Create a PMO charter
4. Identify the PMO staffing requirements
5. Choose a location for the PMO
6. Set up the PMO infrastructure

Each of these steps is important in setting up a successful Project Management Office.

1. Define the purpose of the PMO

The first step in setting up a PMO is to define the purpose of the PMO. What are the goals of the PMO? What needs does the PMO need to address? How will the PMO add value to the organization?

2. Determine the scope of the PMO

The second step is to determine the scope of the PMO. What functions will be performed by the PMO? What projects will be managed by the PMO? What resources will be managed by the PMO?

3. Create a PMO charter

The third step is to create a PMO charter. The PMO charter is a document that outlines the purpose, scope, and responsibilities of the PMO.

4. Identify the PMO staffing requirements

The fourth step is to identify the PMO staffing requirements. What skills and experience are needed by the Project Manager? What skills and experience are needed by the Project Coordinator? What skills and experience are needed by the Business Analyst?

5. Choose a location for the PMO

The fifth step is to choose a location for the PMO. The PMO should be located in a place that is convenient for all Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and Business Analysts.

6. Set up the PMO infrastructure

The sixth and final step is to set up the PMO infrastructure. The PMO infrastructure includes the systems, tools, and processes that are needed to support the functions of the PMO.

The Project Management Office is a vital part of any organization that undertakes projects. By coordinating and managing projects, the PMO ensures that they are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

A Project Manager is the person responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and according to predetermined quality standards. The Project Manager works with the Project Team to understand the needs of the business and how those needs can be met through specific project deliverables.

Best practices for successfully setting up a PMO

There are several different ways to establish a PMO, and the best structure for your company will be determined by its size, demands, and culture. However, there are some fundamental best practices that all PMOs should adhere to.

The first step is to define the roles and responsibilities of the PMO. What will the PMO be responsible for? How will it interact with other departments in the organization?

If you have an internal PMO, you’ll need to staff it with qualified individuals. Project managers who are interested in moving into a PMO role can be a great addition to the team. You may also want to consider hiring consultants or contractors to help get the PMO up and running.

Once you have the team in place, you’ll need to establish processes and procedures. What methods will the PMO use to manage projects? How will it track progress? How will it communicate with stakeholders?

The PMO should also have a clear understanding of the organization’s goals and objectives. What is the company trying to achieve? How can the PMO help to achieve those goals?

Next, you need to establish processes and procedures for the PMO to follow. What project management methodology will the PMO use? How will it handle communication with stakeholders? What tools and templates will it use to manage projects?

Finally, the PMO should establish metrics to track the success of projects. How will the PMO know if projects are on track? What KPIs will be used to measure success?

By following these best practices, you can ensure that your PMO is set up for success.