Brief Summary
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Project Management Offices (PMOs) and Enterprise PMOs (EPMOs), outlining their structures, roles, benefits, and challenges. It explores the different types of PMOs, including Project, Program, and Portfolio Management Offices, and delves into the specific functions and responsibilities of each. The guide also examines the various types of EPMOs, including Delivery, Center of Excellence, and Dedicated EPMOs, and highlights the benefits and challenges associated with implementing an EPMO.
- PMOs are dedicated teams that standardize project-related governance processes and facilitate resource sharing.
- EPMOs are PMOs that support the entire enterprise, often focusing on strategic projects and portfolio management.
What is a PMO?
This chapter introduces the concept of a PMO, explaining that it is a dedicated team focused on project, program, and/or portfolio management. The guide emphasizes the importance of the "P" in PMO, which can refer to Project, Program, or Portfolio Management Office, depending on the PMO's scope and responsibilities. The chapter also provides a definition of PMO from the Project Management Institute's PMBOK Guide.
The Primary Scope of the PMO versus the Scale of the PMO
This chapter clarifies the difference between the scope and scale of a PMO. The scope refers to the areas of focus, which can be projects, programs, or portfolios. The scale refers to the size of the PMO in relation to the organization, with departmental PMOs focusing on a single department and enterprise PMOs supporting the entire company.
What is a PROJECT Management Office?
This chapter delves into the specifics of a Project Management Office (PMO), explaining its focus on projects and project management. It outlines two common PMO models: one with dedicated project managers responsible for project delivery and another that provides guidance and support around project management best practices. The chapter also discusses the primary responsibilities of a PMO, including project delivery, oversight, process standardization, tool and template standardization, training and development, reporting, and communication.
VIDEO: What is a PMO?
This chapter provides a video explaining the concept of a PMO and its benefits. It highlights the advantages of establishing a PMO, such as increased project success rates, consistent delivery approaches, improved coordination across projects, enhanced portfolio management, better utilization of project managers, and improved organizational communication.
What are the Primary PMO Roles?
This chapter focuses on three key roles within a PMO: Project Manager, Project Coordinator, and Project Administrator. It describes the responsibilities and skills required for each role, emphasizing the importance of a balanced skill set for project managers, including both soft and technical skills.
What is the difference between a PMO and a Project Office?
This chapter distinguishes between a PMO and a Project Office. While a PMO is a departmental team supporting multiple projects, a Project Office is a dedicated structure for executing a single large and expensive project. Project Offices typically have their own hierarchy and dedicated team members.
Common Challenges Facing PMOs
This chapter explores common challenges faced by PMOs, including value delivery, PMO justification, order taker versus strategic partner, project police, and communication. It emphasizes the importance of demonstrating value delivery and communicating effectively with senior leadership.
What is a PROGRAM Management Office?
This chapter explains the concept of a Program Management Office (PMO), which focuses on programs and program management. It outlines two common PMO models: one with dedicated program managers responsible for program delivery and another that provides guidance and support around program management best practices. The chapter also discusses the relative rarity of Program Management Offices compared to Project Management Offices.
What is a PORTFOLIO Management Office?
This chapter introduces the Portfolio Management Office (PMO), which focuses on project portfolio management. It explains that this type of PMO does not directly involve project delivery but supports the portfolio management lifecycle through various capabilities, including work intake, prioritization, portfolio value management, portfolio optimization, project tracking, resource capacity planning, portfolio reporting and analysis, and portfolio communication.
Common PMO Frameworks
This chapter explores different PMO frameworks, highlighting three primary types: Delivery PMO, Center of Excellence PMO, and Dedicated PMO. It explains the characteristics and common applications of each framework, emphasizing the importance of aligning the PMO structure with its scope and objectives.
What is an Enterprise PMO?
This chapter introduces the concept of an Enterprise PMO, which is a PMO that supports the entire enterprise. It discusses the different types of Enterprise PMOs, including Enterprise Project Management Office, Enterprise Program Management Office, and Enterprise Portfolio Management Office. The chapter emphasizes the prevalence of Enterprise Project Management Offices and Enterprise Portfolio Management Offices.
Common EPMO Frameworks
This chapter explores different EPMO frameworks, highlighting three primary types: Delivery EPMO, Center of Excellence EPMO, and Dedicated EPMO. It explains the characteristics and common applications of each framework, emphasizing the importance of aligning the EPMO structure with its scope and objectives.
Enterprise Project Management Office Types
This chapter delves into the different types of Enterprise Project Management Offices, including Delivery EPMO, Center of Excellence EPMO, and Dedicated EPMO. It explains the characteristics and common applications of each type, highlighting the importance of aligning the EPMO structure with its scope and objectives.
Enterprise Portfolio Management Office
This chapter discusses the role of an Enterprise Portfolio Management Office, which provides portfolio management support across the enterprise. It explains the benefits of this type of EPMO, including stronger delivery at the enterprise level, enterprise visibility, focused strategic execution, standard project management, and optimal portfolio management.
Benefits of an EPMO
This chapter highlights the benefits of utilizing an EPMO, including stronger delivery at the enterprise level, enterprise visibility, focused strategic execution, standard project management, and optimal portfolio management.
Challenges with an EPMO
This chapter explores common challenges associated with EPMOs, including governance, process, data, and systems. It emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the governance structure, standardizing processes, managing data requirements, and integrating systems to ensure the success of an EPMO.
Summary
This chapter summarizes the key takeaways from the guide, emphasizing the importance of setting up a PMO or EPMO for the right reasons and implementing it effectively. It highlights the different types of PMOs and EPMOs, their functions, and the benefits they provide. The chapter concludes by acknowledging the ongoing evolution of PMOs and EPMOs in practice.
