A Project Management Office or a PMO is part of an organizational structure that specifies and maintains standards for project management within an organization. The Project Management Office facilitates guidance, and sharing of resources and introduces economies of repetition in the implementation of project

They are the guardians of the project from gathering information to formulating guidelines for upcoming projects. Not only do they monitor but report on active projects and portfolios including progress of top management in the strategic decision-making process. This video discusses various forms of PMO and their functions and how it benefits your business to achieve the ultimate corporate goals.

Types of PMO

There are different types of PMOs, each with their own focus and level of involvement in the organization’s projects.

• A controlling PMO is focused on enforcing project management standards and procedures, and ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality.
• A supportive PMO provides resources, tools, and training to project managers and teams to help them complete projects successfully.
• A directive PMO is more involved in the day-to-day management of projects, and may even take on the role of project manager for some or all of the organization’s projects.

Each type of PMO has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the best approach will depend on the organization’s specific needs and goals. In general, a controlling PMO can help to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget, while a supportive PMO can help to improve project managers’ and teams’ skills and knowledge. A directive PMO can be more effective when the organization does not have a strong project management capability.

Another Structure of PMO

An individual PMO is a project management office that is set up to support a specific project or program, rather than the organization as a whole. This type of PMO typically has a short-term focus, and is dissolved once the project or program is completed.

A departmental PMO, on the other hand, is set up to support a specific department or business unit within an organization. This type of PMO typically has a longer-term focus, and may be responsible for managing multiple projects or programs within the department.

A corporate PMO, also known as an enterprise PMO, is set up to support the organization as a whole. This type of PMO typically has a strategic focus, and may be responsible for managing projects and programs across multiple departments or business units. A corporate PMO can also provide guidance, standards and governance for projects and programs throughout the organization.

This video is from Project Management Seminars Series presented by Mudassir Iqbal, PMP which goes On-Air every Saturday at 19:00 GMT. The series explores how to effectively manage projects based on the Project Management Practices suggested in PMBOK Guide by PMI.

The Episode went On-Air on 25 August, 2018
Updated 23 Jan, 2023