Using PMO In 2023: Success Or Failure?

 “Get the right people. Then no matter what else you might do wrong after that, the people will save you. That’s what management is all about.” – Tom DeMarco

What does PMO mean?

PMO is the abbreviation for Project Management Office which is an office or department in a company that provides guidance and sets standards for a project. According to a research about 89% of the organizations have adapted the PMO culture for delivery of projects. A PMO offers a structure and assistance in the forms of project templates, standardized processes and methodology recommendations.

It is also important to note that it is not mandatory to have a PMO in an organization for project management. A PMO is useful when the organization has many cross-functional projects at the same time. The role of a PMO depends on the size of the organization and number of projects in process at a time.

Functions of a PMO in an Organization

A PMO is a multi-functional department with a variety of functions. It is best when a PMO’s functions are tailored according to the needs and capabilities of the company. The most common and essential functions are-

·       The PMO is responsible to plan the projects at the beginning by allocating the resources and tools to the projects. They ensure that the projects are completed with standard quality in time and within the assorted budget.

·       The PMO is also like a link between the cross-functioning team. It communicates details from the Project Manager to the Team Head/Scrum Master to maintain the flow of the process.

·       A PMO sets some milestones in a process to review the progress of ongoing projects.

·       It is their responsibility to hire Managers or other Professionals in the team and also to train them for the projects.

·       Keeping a track on the expenses and budget of the project is another essential function of a PMO.

 

Why should you consider working in a PMO?

A PMO is not only beneficial for an organization but it also benefits the professionals working in it. Some of the perks you can have of working in a PMO are-

·       The first one has to be that it boosts your career by adding skills and experience.

·       Increase in demand of PMO in every sector means proportionately high salary to the professionals working in it.

·       PMO is an important department, so the employees working in it are looked upon by other employees with respect and interest.

·       Also practical knowledge is what you gain from all the processes going on simultaneously in the organization. You will be practically managing different methodologies like Waterfall Model, V-model, Agile Methodology, etc in cross-functional projects.

Role of PMO in delivery of a project

In the recent years as there has been a surge in the cross-functional projects, the need of a proper department to handle it has also emerged. So, Project Management Office has been brought in activity to handle the methods, budget, standards and tools of a project in order to deliver as per the requirement and satisfaction of the clients/Product Owner.

Title Description

1.     Define PMO

PMO stands for Project Management Office, which is a group of professionals in a department of an organization/Government office/enterprise/industry who are responsible to define and maintain the standards. They have to make the decisions about the process, selection of methodology like Agile Methodology/Lean Model/Waterfall Model, resolve issues, etc. There are many jobs in a PMO which hold different level of responsibilities. It helps to deliver a project smoothly and lessen the hassle through planning and eradicating errors.

2.     Are PMO and Project Manager same?

In most of the Industries in the IT sector, both PMO and Project Managers are appointed in order to handle the projects efficiently. PMO is a department whereas a Project Manager is a highly experienced professional who takes the overall charge of the project. The professionals working in a PMO are actually working under a Project Manager. The skills that a Project Manager owns alone are spread in different individuals in a PMO. Project Managers are the ones who directly deal with the Product Owner to deliver the product up to their satisfaction.

3.     Roles in a PMO

There are some specific responsibilities of a PMO in every organization-

·       The main aim of a PMO is to create and select the standardized methods, process and tools best suitable for a project. Scrum Methodology has become kind of favorite practices after its success rate but it is the PMO that decides that which practice is best.

·       Supporting and implementing the plans through training.

·       Giving a consolidated report on all the projects to the stakeholders and decision makers.

·       Allocation and optimum utilization of resources to deliver best results.

·       Strategic Portfolio Management and Governance.

About Advance Agility

We, at Advance Agility, are the new-age Agile Coaching, Consulting and IT services company. We enable end-to-end Digital Transformation. Agile execution is integral to our being. We are doing SAFe implementation with small, medium and large organization across the globe. Our vision is to be the leading Agile execution player globally. To keep adding value at every process stage. We are on a mission to empower our clients, move from concept to cash in the shortest sustainable lead time by adopting human centric approach to business agility. Embracing the change is in our DNA. Things that keep us apart are Quicker and Seamless execution with End-to-end gamut of services. Our Global presence and Stellar Track Record give us an edge over our competitor.

Connect with us at advanceagility.com to learn about SAFe and SAFe Implementation. We provide various SAFe certification courses along with DevOps, Scrum, Agile Coaching and more trainings. Write to us at contact@advanceagilty.com for any agile training or consulting needs. We are always looking for competent agile trainers as well. So if you are a good trainer or want to become one, do get in touch with us to that we can learn, grow and achieve together.