We believe that a Project Management Office (PMO), is a group or department within a business, agency or enterprise that defines and maintains standards for project management within the organization. The PMO strives to standardize and introduce economies of repetition in the execution of projects.
The PMO is the source of documentation, guidance and metrics on the practice of project management and execution. In some organizations this is known as the Program Management Office (sometimes abbreviated to PgMO to differentiate); the subtle difference is that program management relates to governing the management of several related projects.
PMOs may take other functions beyond standards and methodology, and participate in Strategic project management either as facilitator or actively as owner of the Portfolio Management process. Tasks may include monitoring and reporting on active projects and portfolios (following up project until completion), and reporting progress to top management for strategic decisions on what projects to continue or cancel.
In some instances the PMO accommodates the Quality Assurance (QA) function and introduces audits that aim to provide the true state of IT projects.
The degree of control and influence that PMOs have on projects depend on the type of PMO structure within the enterprise; it can be:
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Supportive, with a consultative role
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Controlling, by requiring compliance for example
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Directive, by taking control and managing the projects
PMO can be one of three types from an organizational exposure perspective:
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enterprise PMO,
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organizational (departmental) PMO, or
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special–purpose PMO.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) Program Management Office Community of Practice (CoP), describes the PMO as a strategic driver for organizational excellence, which seeks to enhance the practices of execution management, organizational governance, and strategic change leadership.
Project Management Office (PMO) Services
At YBT Services we see the PMO as a centre of excellence with the duties of:
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Custody of Policies, Processes, Procedurs and Templates;
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Collecting information;
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Dissemuinating information;
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Enforcing Standards;
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Ensuring adherence to standards & contracts;
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Coordinating Resources (Human & H/W);
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Maintaining Fit-For-Purpose (FFP) skill sets;
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Supporting the IT Project Managers and their teams (via Audits & Inspections);
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Facilitating Interest Groups;
We set-up the PMO, we populate the PMO elements (Poilcy, Strtegy, Processes, Procedures and Templates), we train your staff in their use, we create a flawless transition to the organisation's personnel.