You can find 3 fundamental varieties of Project Management Office (PMO) organisations, varying inside the degree of control and influence they’ve on projects within the organisation. You will require to decide which type you need to establish in order to have an efficient project office.
The three types of PMOs contain:
1. Supportive PMO
The Supportive PMO typically provides support in the type of on-demand expertise, templates, finest practices, access to details and expertise on other projects, and also the like. This can work in an organisation where projects are done successfully in a loosely controlled manner and where extra control is deemed unnecessary. Also, if the objective would be to have a sort of “clearing-house” of project management info across the enterprise to be employed freely by project managers, then the Supportive PMO is the correct sort.
2. Controlling PMO
In organisations where there’s a desire to “reign in” the activities, processes, procedures, documentation, and far more – a controlling PMO can accomplish that. Not only does the organisation supply support, however it also needs that the support be employed. Requirements may consist of adoption of certain methodologies, templates, forms, conformance to governance, and application of other PMO controlled sets of rules. Furthermore, project offices may need to have to pass normal reviews by the controlling PMO, and this may possibly represent a risk factor on the project. This works if a) there is a clear case that compliance with project management organisation offerings will bring improvements in the organisation and how it executes on projects, and b) the PMO has sufficient executive support to stand behind the controls the PMO puts in place.
3. Directive PMO
This kind goes beyond control and actually “takes over” the projects by offering the project management encounter and resources to manage the project. As organisations undertake projects, expert project managers from the PMO are assigned to the projects. This injects an excellent deal of professionalism into the projects, and, considering that every of the project managers originates and reports back to the directive PMO, it guarantees a high level of consistency of practice across all projects. This is successful in larger organisations that often matrix out support in numerous areas, and where this setup would fit the culture.
The very best type is extremely particular to the organisation, culture, and history of what works and what does not. But the objectives are – more or less – to:
- Implement a typical methodology
- Standardise terminology
- Introduce successful repeatable project management processes
- Present frequent supporting tools
- Ultimately, the objective would be to improve levels of project success inside the organisation
Being conscious of these varieties can allow you to and your organisation much more easily accomplish this.
