W20.1_Austin_Project Management Organizations [PMOs] “Best Practices”

1.    Problem recognition, definition and evaluation

There are several forms of PMOs in Project Management practice today. AACE advocates matching Project Portfolios to the desired Organization Structure, to meet or fulfill the strategic, operational or tactical business needs or objectives of the organization. Hence, problem statement is to determine ‘Best Practice’ PMO for achieving and delivering excellence in a purely Projectized Organization Structure.

 2.    Development of the feasible alternatives

A case study of Projectized Organization Structure, Possible range of PMOs varying in size, scope and responsibilities include;

1.    Weather Station – Monitor progress against a plan created and submitted by the project team, and reports impartially (passively) against that plan.

 

2.    Control Tower or Project Police - This is responsible to facilitate creating the plan, track against the plan and play an active role between the projects participants and key management in identifying issues than making the decisions to resolve those issues.

 

3.    Resource Pool – A pool of subject matter experts (SMEs) in areas related to Project Management – Scope, Time, Quality, HR, Risk, Contracts, Communications – available on a just in time (as needed basis), to assist and support project teams (Cost Estimators, MS Project experts, Risk facilitators, Conflict resolution experts). Examples are AACE, PMI, IPMA, AIPM, INCOSE, PTMC etc.

 

4.    Internal Consultant/Mentor – Experienced senior professionals, available for or assigned to Project Teams as a Senior Mentor or Advisor.

5.    Insourced / Outsourced PM Provider or Skunk-works – Functional Department within the organization responsible to actually plan, execute and control projects, using resources seconded on a temporary or full time basis from their functional departments to a specific project or group of projects.

 

3.    Development of the outcomes and cash flows for each

1.    Selection of the acceptable criteria

It takes time, practice and growth, both physically and mentally, for a PMO to attain a reputable status for delivering excellence in a Projectized Organization Structure.

However, such excellence would depend on acceptable criteria such as; Policy Planning, Business Opportunity, Business Operations, Performance Records, Stake Holders, Service Deliverables, Quality Assurance  and Quality Control.

5.  Analysis and Comparison of the alternatives

The Resource Pool form of PMO favorably meets selection criteria for achieving and delivering excellence in a Projectized Organization Structure, compared to other range of PMOs in terms of size, scope and responsibilities.

6.    Selection of the preferred alternative

The Resource Pool form of PMO with the highest scoring attributes is therefore considered “Best Practice” for achieving and delivering excellence in a Projectized Organization Structure.

7.    Performance Monitoring and Post Evaluation of Results

The Resource Pool form of PMO with the highest scoring attributes would therefore be recommended in future determination of PMOs “Best Practices” for achieving and delivering excellence in a Projectized Organization Structure.

8.    References/Bibliography

1.    Giammalvo, Paul D. (2012). AACE Certification Preparatory Course  - Day 1 Slides #60-66 (5 General Forms of PMOs). And Day 3 Slides #68-#73.
corporate or business organizational structure criteria best suited to Deliver PMO services.

2.    Project Management Organizations and ResourcesShared on Google+. View the post.

You +1'd this publicly. List of leading project management organizations and resources for ... Use this list of the top U.S. and international project management organizations to access ...

http://consulting.about.com/od/consultingspecialties/tp/CF_PMOrganizations1007.htm

3.    The Top 100 Construction Management At-Risk list, published annually in June, ranks the 100 largest U.S. construction firms, both publicly and privately held, based on revenue derived from projects where they provide CM services on at at-risk basis. (where the firms accept the legal and financial risks associated with delivering the construction project. http://enr.construction.com/toplists/CM-Risk/001-100.asp