AtekPC - PMO

The mission and purpose of a PMO is to standardize project management methodologies by developing project level organizational structure through the use of PMO generated and administered documents and tools which work collaboratively and cross functionally to support project initiatives resulting in enhanced project efficiencies and success.

The PMO challenges and obstacles AtekPC is facing include balancing the allocation of company resources, overcoming cultural resistance to new project management techniques, determining the governance model for the PMO system and identifying the scale at which to implement the program.

There are multiple governance and structural mechanisms that are critical to effective PMO implementation.  From a governance standpoint the organizational level of accountability should bear on a senior level manager.  Accountability for the PMO program must flow from the top down. 

Addressing the structural mechanism of the PMO , full time project managers should be used to manage each project.  Project mangers will be responsible to handle multiple projects at any given time.  Staff level support teams will provide administrative support to the project managers.  All new projects should be routed through the PMO.

Below is a blueprint for the successful implementation of the PMO at AtekPC.

Goal – To implement a PMO system that is supported by company culture, standardizes project management methodologies, increases project efficiency and success without allocating company resources in a manner which adversely affects other business activities.

Strategy – The first step to successfully implement the PMO is to determine the governance of the program.  The CIO should identify a senior level manager who possess project management experience and bestow upon the manager accountability for the successful implementation of the program.  The senior level manager will be a direct report to the CIO and the CIO will update fellow C-Levels of the PMO progress.  Implementation of the PMO must follow a top down priority.  The CIO, all managers and staff level workers must be aware of the priority of the initiative.  Once a defined governance model is developed a meeting must be organized between all functional department managers, the PMO senior manager and the CIO.  During this meeting functional department managers should be made aware of the PMO initiative and goals.  Subsequent to this meeting the functional department managers must conduct staff meetings and educate the staff of the PMO program.  Meeting should be held monthly to update everyone of the PMO progress and open discussion should be conducted to allow staff members to provide input.  This approach will encourage organizational support and enable the PMO program to be embedded in the company culture. 

The PMO program should be staffed with 1 project manger per function group.  This can only be accomplished if individuals are promoted to project manager positions or new project managers are hired.  In either case this will result in additional labor costs.  The effectiveness of the PMO program will generate adequate cost savings to offset the additional labor costs.  Each functional department project manager will be responsible for all requests of their assigned department.  Project managers will be expected to work on multiple projects simultaneous.  Clerical support for project managers will come from staff level positions in each department. 

Implementation of this strategy resembles a blend of PMO heavy and PMO light as discussed during our internal meetings.  The cross functional, top down delivery and hiring of additional project managers follows the PMO heavy strategy.  The PMO light strategy is evidenced by hosting meetings with staff level workers and incorporating their recommendations into the PMO process.  This implementation strategy will foster a company culture which understands the goals of the PMO program and encourage support for the program.  Utilizing the approach outlined above AtekPC will be able to successfully implement PMO program.