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What are you biggest challenges as PMO director?

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Mayte Mata Sivera PMO Leader | Speaker | Author Ut, United States

Here a few that are more common:

- Resource Management & Resistance to implementation
- Adaptation to the Agile environment
- Failure to place the PMO at the right level of the organization
- Find the right tools

Posted: Oct 1, 2021 4:35 PM

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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada

Mayte -

A couple of others:

1. Ensuring the PMO is seen as relevant and value-add by all key stakeholders.

2. Sufficient budget for hiring and retaining the best talent.

Kiron

Posted: Oct 1, 2021 5:47 PM

Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina

In my case, I am fully aligned with @Kiron´s comments above, mainly the first one. In my case, none of the items you listed are in my list after lot of years to help organizations to implement PMOs, no matter some of them are covered by items inside Kiron´s list in my understanding.

Posted: Oct 2, 2021 4:27 AM (Updated by author: Oct 2, 2021 4:27 AM)

Peter Rapin Subject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent Consultant Ontario, Canada

I would add:

a) archaic/inflexible processes
b) micro-management at the executive level.

Posted: Oct 3, 2021 11:04 AM

Oliver Schneidemann Transformation Professional New York, NY, United States

Yes, inability to see the value add is a significant concern. Occasionally, PMO's are seen as "3 guys with a clipboard standing around and watching one guy dig a hole". This, of course, is often unfair and points to a lacking understanding on the part of PMO customers. Pursuing internal public relations efforts supported by data to explain rationale and demonstrate PMO value will require time but are vitally important.

Posted: Oct 6, 2021 4:18 PM

Thomas Walenta Global Project Economy Expert Hackenheim, Germany

Adaptation to changes in organizational strategy and priorities and to inevitable changes in supportive leadership.

This is, in my experience, the #1 reason why PMOs get disbanded in average after 2 years.

And to add: why should a PMO survive after 2 years if it solved the business problem it was created for?

Posted: Oct 6, 2021 5:39 PM

Lucy Owen FE fundinfo United Kingdom

For me it's getting buy-in on the PMO in the first place from Senior Management.

Posted: Oct 7, 2021 4:22 AM

Engdaw Admasu Construction Project Manager| Water Works Corporation (WWC) Kombolcha Town, Ethiopia

1. Scarcity of working capital
2. War or ethnic clash
3. Change of planning, reporting, and other formats /rules, regulations

Posted: Oct 7, 2021 7:06 AM

César Castillo Operatios Project Manager| Komatsu Mexico

I read all your comments and makes me wonder why it is so difficult to implement a PMO, maybe is a question of priorities or we do not see the benefits from it.
I would definitely make the proposal to our senior managment.
Thanks fr your feedback and how to approach them...

Posted: Nov 15, 2021 12:06 PM

Thomas Walenta Global Project Economy Expert Hackenheim, Germany

Cesar,

yes, I would encourage you to do it.
And also to learn from others what worked well and what not.

Find a sponsor and agree with them what you are going to achieve in 1 and then 2 years. Once you created benefits (PMO setup), you have to keep them giving value (PMO operations). And probably find new benefits to pursue or else interest of senior management may go down. This means embracing change.

Good luck. Get a mentor.

Thomas

...

1 reply by César Castillo

Nov 28, 2021 5:15 PM

César Castillo

...

Thanks Thomas! I will try to find a mentor...

Posted: Nov 15, 2021 2:03 PM

César Castillo Operatios Project Manager| Komatsu Mexico

Nov 15, 2021 2:03 PM

Replying to Thomas Walenta

...

Thanks Thomas! I will try to find a mentor...

Posted: Nov 28, 2021 5:15 PM

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What are you biggest challenges as PMO director?

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