Questioning PMO Value

  PMO   ProjectsAtWork  

A new global survey indicates disparities in the measurement and effectiveness of PMOs, leaving their value a great unknown.

Results of a new global study reveal that many organizations do not operate their project or program Management Office (PMO) as effectively as they could. That, in itself, is disheartening, but not shocking. However, of the 82 percent of organizations worldwide that reported having a PMO, more than half do not even measure PMO effectiveness. Additionally, the survey results show that as PMOs have matured, organizations are increasingly questioning their value, ability to measure effectiveness and their role in growing PM capabilities through effective training.

More than 3,700 survey respondents included project/program managers and directors, heads of PMO, senior executives and other project-related staff both inside and outside the PMO from a wide range of industries in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and the Asia Pacific (APAC) regions. ESI International conducted the study in March.

“The large majority of organizations who have PMOs indicate that they understand the advantages that PMOs can offer,” said J. LeRoy Ward, PMP, PgMP, executive vice president, product strategy and management, ESI International. “The results of ESI’s global survey indicate numerous areas where PMOs currently…

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