I recently attended a PMI conference and had several conversations with teams that had a PMO, and all of them had a leadership push to move to a PMO. Are there any PMs out there that had to persuade leadership to move to a PMO? Our environment is conservative and our Project Management department is only about 5 years old, but we would like to begin moving toward a PMO, but have major leadership push back. Saving Changes...
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Linda ZinnDirector, Enterprise Project Management Office| FlightSafety InternationalRutherford, Nj, United States
I think this has been brought up in some previous threads but my recommendation always is to just start doing what you think a PMO should be doing and show the value. It's often easier to get approval for something if you can show tangible value rather than just theory. Often, as well, just having a mandate from the top is not enough so this approach may gain buy in while working towards an official approval.
'Show the value' - I agree with Linda. Saving Changes...
Tobe PhelpsDirector of Digital Experience| Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, Nm, United States
Don't ask for permission. Make the changes that you need to make for your department to be successful and then show the value of what you have done. You will be become the de facto PMO if you act like one. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
First of all, really understand what a PMO is and what type of PMO will be in your vision. You have to clear state vision and mission first. Then, take into account that most of the times you have a "nominated" PMO (those that have been created as a result of strategy decission) and lot of times you will find "real" PMO (those that act as a PMO without being created as a business unit). In the last one, you could face some kind on conflict when more than a PMO exists in the same organization. Critical thing to remember: you will assume the risk. In most of the organizations what is not strategic is considering as a source of wasted because it will not add value (that is the perception) so it could be eliminated. Saving Changes...
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base.
