Project Management Office, also known as PMO, is pivotal in accelerating the implementation process. It comprises an agency, department or group that maintains a company’s project management standards.
PMO is responsible for documenting the businesses’ ongoing projects’ status. They are generally established for a specific office project or program. This department offers administrative support and emphasises daily activities in the project team. PMO handles everything, from project planning to executing the assigned projects.
Over 89% of companies have at least 1 project management office, and some have 2-3 PMOs. Why do the majority of organisations have PMOs? It speeds up the project assignments. This agency also ensures the company’s senior management is aware of the recent projects.
Now, the question is – Can a PMO accelerate the implementation process? It depends on how the project’s initiation phase was completed. The Project Management Office can boost the implementation process if the employees have completed the initiation phase following the project plan.
Let’s learn about PMO and how it accelerates the implementation process:
Which Methodologies a Project Management Office Follows to Operate the Functions?
Around 7 out of 10 organisations have a Project Management Office. It guides the employees on how to complete the assigned client projects. All PMOs function based on an industry-standard methodology, and it includes:
1. Scrum
It is an agile project management framework that helps the team to organise and structure their work. Scrum helps the employees involved in the office project to learn new things, improving their skills.
It also encourages the team to solve a problem when completing the projects. Software development companies mainly use Scrum if they have 30 days to complete the project.
2. Six Sigma
You must have heard about the Six Sigma methodology if you run a business. It uses tools to improve the business process and reduce human errors. This methodology aims to improve the project teams’ efficiency and work quality.
Six Sigma is widely used in Project Management Offices to minimise defects. It provides organisations with a system framework, eliminating variations. So, Six Sigma improves the project’s productivity in an organisation.
3. Waterfall
This methodology is mostly used in software development projects. It emphasises a linear progression from the office project’s beginning to the end. Waterfall methodology or model goes through different phases, including analysis and testing.
However, the waterfall methodology’s success determines the amount of project work that gets done on the front end. It includes documenting every project work in advance, like creating the UI, features and other details.
4. Agile
It is another methodology Project Management Offices implement to achieve the ultimate success. PMO especially uses this model for company projects that require acceleration. Agile methodology can be applied to every project.
Projects that require continuous monitoring regarding the product delivery or order in a short span use this method. Agile methodology also focuses on continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration.
Does a Project Management Office Accelerate the Implementation Process?
Yes! PMOs can speed up the project implementation, but certain factors depend on the outcome. The initiation phase plays a major role in deciding whether a PMO can accelerate the implementation process.
So, what is a project’s initiation phase? It is when the company decides on the project idea and defines or evaluates it to the employees. Initiation is the first step in starting a new company project and deciding who will participate.
The senior project manager chooses a methodology to accelerate the process in this phase. The Project Management Office then identifies the problems and tries to solve them using effective solutions. The team also solved the implementation issue to complete the phase efficiently.
Does the project depend on other departments of your office? The project manager must contact them and ensure the assignments go smoothly. Thus, a Project Management Office bridges the gap between the different office departments when handling a project.
Different Types of Project Management Offices You Must Know About:
PMOs have different types, which most organisations need to be made aware of. Some PMOs offer direct control of important company projects, but some don’t. So, you must know which type of project management offices to use for your project:
1. The Directive PMO
This type of project management office provides more control over projects. As the name implies, the management team uses directive PMO for directing projects. It provides resources to improve project productivity. This PMO assigns the project managers the vital work, and they report their progress to the team.
2. The Supportive PMO
It provides no direct intervention or control on the projects like the directive PMO. so, what is the function of a supportive PMO? It implements practices to supply templates and access the project’s vital information. Moreover, the supportive PMO pinpoints the team with the lessons learned from the projects.
3. The Controlling PMO
As the name suggests, the controlling PMO provides higher control than the supportive or directive PMO. It helps the project manager check if every team member performs their assigned work correctly according to the plan.
4. The Activist PMO
Most organisations need help to complete projects or assign work to the right associates. For them, the activist PMO is ideal for boosting project quality and efficiency. This PMO type minimises the risk or problems associated with a large-scale project. It provides a flexible framework to support changes in the projects.
5. Individual PMO
This type of PMO is used to handle complex organisational projects or programs efficiently. It provides the senior project manager with an infrastructure perfect for the project. He supervises the team to work on the project according to the plan.
Best Ways a Project Management Office Use to Accelerate the Implementation Process:
By now, you must have acknowledged that PMOs accelerate the implementation process. However, you don’t know how this group or department speeds up the process. Here, we have mentioned the proven ways a PMO can accelerate the businesses’ implementation process:
- PMOs reduce major project failures, increasing accuracy.
- It helps businesses to overcome budget constraints when running a project.
- PMOs collect data and reports and analyse them to standardise the project works.
- It removes the hassle of hiring different project managers for different company projects.
- Project managers can make better and faster decisions for the PMO’s outlined strategic plans.
- PMOs strengthen the relationship between the project manager and employees.
- Having a project management office increases business growth and revenue.
- PMOs help companies allocate the right manager to execute the project within the budget.
- The project management office provides constant support to the higher-level management team.
Why Do Organisations Have Project Management Offices These days?
Project Management Offices in the business help the team or leaders to acknowledge what is truly happening. Finding the mistakes on time helps the company to achieve its project management goals. Moreover, estimation and planning are major in determining the project’s success.
Most businesses faced project failure due to a lack of planning and estimation. Clients are disappointed when the projects take longer than the agreed time. This is where a project management office comes into the work.
PMOs ensure the projects are completed within the agreed time. It implements a simple and easy-to-understand plan for project estimation. Team leaders must follow this strategic plan to meet the client’s expectations.
Besides, PMOs help the organisation to choose and prioritise the right projects. It is an essential aspect of increasing the company’s value and reputation. These departments also help the project managers to deliver the projects timely. They provide regular reporting about the different projects’ progress. It accelerates growth by promoting the best practices for your business.