We have project managers scattered through various functions within our IT organization. There is considerable debate whether or not they should remain in functional groups or report into the PMO and be distributed as a need basis to projects.
I am looking for industry best practices preferably an IT organization in the retail industry. Saving Changes...
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Andrew LindsayBusiness Engagement Manager| Wood GroupHouston, Tx, United States
I have experience of both scenarios. Keeping all PM's as part of a central group creates an environment for better knowledge sharing, a focus on common practices and more varied career options. The advantage of keeping PM's assigned to functional groups is the experience / knowledge of that function they build up which could this lead to people becoming indespensible?
I prefer the central PM group. Saving Changes...
John ZacharProduct Dev Manager| Association for Project Management (APM)Brackley,, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Again, experience of both, but I'm not sure that I like a central pool of PMs, being shared out, over their placement in the functions. The value associated with their knowledge of functional areas I think is higher than pooling the resources in a central area.
There are two things that I try to do, however. First is to establish a career path for PMs within the organisation. That is not necessairly easy, but imperative; that is the only way I know of to attract and keep good PMs. They have to know where they will be in a year's time.
The second it to establish a support office for all the reasons that make sense. Here is an additional reason. As a PM finishes a project, he / she can be assigned to the PSO for a period after the completion of the project. Several things take place - first a download of experience of that project into the PSO and all that entails. Expansion of the knowledge base of the PM concerned as he / she then goes out to help other PMs with best practice. No better way to improve knowledge than to have to teach / support it. Then after a suitable period, back to the functional area for the next project - a bit of both worlds. Not easy to do, but rewards are plentiful. Saving Changes...
