What should be the formal position for the person hired to define, implement, monitor implementation and improve the PMO framework in a company?
Alina FloreaManagement Performance Coach| Alina Florea Coaching | alinaflorea.netBucuresti, Romania
Here it is the context: an EPC company with 200 employees and multimillion $ projects in energy sector, without an established standardized way to manage and control projects. The company needs not only to become more transparent towards its clients, but also towards its shareholders who are still decisive and are main stakeholders in finding clients and future projects in the market for the company. The company realized it should go internationally to increase its opportunity in the market. Therefore, to increase significant its capability and predictability it intends to establish a PMO and bring in an external seasoned PM with proven track record in having done so.
What in your opinion should be the formal position and job title of the newly hired and who should him report to so that defining, establishing and implementing a PMO to be a success. Who should in your opinion report to this person, if any? Saving Changes...
Sromon DasSenior Project Manager| Mara ConsultingHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
In my organization we have a VP in the Projects Team who rolls up to the EVP of the Strategy division. So the VP leads the PMO
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1 reply by Alina Florea
Dec 07, 2017 12:16 PM
Alina Florea
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Thank you. It is clear to me that not only skill and prior experience of the person to be taken on board should be real. The organization itself should allow the right formal authority and manifestation of the respective function (including adequate manning) for supporting the new role in defining and implementing the PMO.
Saving Changes...
Janice GrierSenior Technical Vendor Manager| ATTShelby Township, Mi, United States
I agree with Sromon the PMO should have a VP title. Depending on how many people you are hiring maybe a director and a couple of Senior Project Managers could round out the department.
If you want to be really ambitious, I'd go with CPO - Chief Project Officer.
Kiron
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1 reply by Alina Florea
Dec 07, 2017 12:27 PM
Alina Florea
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Thank you Kiron. I have to admit that I have never heard so far about a Chief Project Officer. That perhaps the practice of project management in Romania is only now maturing. By analogy with a Chief Operating Officer I may identify the area of responsibility, however I would have to think about the border between the COO and a CPO. How would you define each ones area of responsibility and how would you draw the border?
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Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
First of all, the PMO must be created because it will solve an strategical problem. Then, the first thing to do is to define if portfolio/program/project management functions will be a component inside the organizational functions and then a strategical component. Second, if you define that those functions must exists then you must define if a physical business unit (a PMO) deserves to be created or those functions will be located into other physical business unit. After your organization decided all that put the name you want. For example, "The Matrix" to the business unit and "Neo" to the head of that office.
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1 reply by Alina Florea
Dec 07, 2017 12:35 PM
Alina Florea
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Thank you Sergio. Very good point on the fit of this position with the strategy ! You noticed well that program and project management function is a strategic one since the company needs to increase its ability to stay in market (control plus predictability), but also to enter new markets outside Romania. Therefore the position is strategic.
I agree that a name is just a name, in the end the name is a convention made and understood by the interested stakeholders; however, in Romanian culture, this name should convey enough formal authority to support the endeavor of a PMO implementation. It is with great interest that I read the answers and see the general practice. Thank you again!
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
In my previous company, we had a similar post EVPO: Executive Vice President - Operations.
All projects managers, directors and area managers report to him. Saving Changes...
Sherry HayesLecturer| UCSD Chula Vista, Ca, United States
Depends, if PMO is located within another department, I would say Director of PMO. If not, then VP title as mentioned by Janice and Sromon. Saving Changes...
Deepesh RammoorthyICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceTarneit, Vic, Australia
Okay first of all , out of the three types of PMO, Supporting , Controlling and Directive, this job profile fits the leader of a Directive PMO .
A Directive PMO actually "takes over" the projects by providing the project management experience and resources to manage the project.
As organisations undertake projects, professional project managers from the PMO are assigned to the projects. This injects a great deal of professionalism into the projects, and, since each of the project managers originates and reports back to the directive PMO, it guarantees a high level of consistency of practice across all projects.
This is effective in larger organisations that often matrix out support in various areas, and where this setup would fit the culture.
So therefore in this case I would propose that the leader of this new Organisation be called the PMO Director .
The Director would have 1) Program Managers working underneath who will manage programs where similar projects would be grouped into the one bucket
2) Project Managers and Project Coordinators will report into Program Managers
3) There will be PMO Resource coordinator(s) working across programs
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1 reply by Alina Florea
Dec 07, 2017 12:20 PM
Alina Florea
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Thank you for your detailed response. Indeed, this PMO is expected to cover all three functions.
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Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Ideally, you want the position to report to a CxO, preferably the COO.
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1 reply by Alina Florea
Dec 07, 2017 12:18 PM
Alina Florea
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Thank you! I agree.
Saving Changes...
Alina FloreaManagement Performance Coach| Alina Florea Coaching | alinaflorea.netBucuresti, Romania
Dec 06, 2017 12:57 PM
Replying to Sromon Das
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In my organization we have a VP in the Projects Team who rolls up to the EVP of the Strategy division. So the VP leads the PMO
Thank you. It is clear to me that not only skill and prior experience of the person to be taken on board should be real. The organization itself should allow the right formal authority and manifestation of the respective function (including adequate manning) for supporting the new role in defining and implementing the PMO. Saving Changes...
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