In some organizations the strategic level PMO is called SMO (Strategic Management Office). Saving Changes...
Christian BESACIERSystems and Network Engineer| Swisscaution SANyon, Vaud, Switzerland
Like a PMO the primary purpose of the SMO is to give structure and support to the delivery of IT services. While a PMO focuses on the project portfolio, programs and individual projects, the SMO focuses on the continuous operations and day-to-day activities.
The SMO Defined: How It Is and Is Not like a PMO
"From project management office (PMO) to the service management office (SMO), the world of IT can be full of strange terms that are hard to define. Rui Soares at ITIL Blues takes a crack at explaining what an SMO is and isn’t. Let’s start with the six things an SMO is:
A dedicated part of the organization
A source of expertise on service management
An adviser
An owner of knowledge who ensures the organization is educated and up to date
A measurer who defines, collects, and reports on metrics
A manager of stakeholders, including top management, CIO, and process and service owners
However, an SMO is not a PMO. They often work together, but they are not the same thing. Even though the SMO might be a shared service or an extension of the PMO, it is not specifically meant for projects. The definition might still seem hazy, but remember to think of the two as separate but related entities. The two sometimes go hand in hand, but the SMO can also stand on its own." Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened."
