www.pmi.org Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700::6811:b3b7  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

https://www.pmi.org/search#q=&sort=relevancy

<form action="https://www.pmi.org/search#q=&amp;sort=relevancy" autocomplete="off" role="search" aria-label="Sitewide">
  <div class="pmi-adp-search__field"> <label for="adp-search-input" class="sr-only">Search across PMI</label> <span class="autocomplete"></span> <input class="pmi-adp-search__input" id="adp-search-input" type="search" placeholder="Search"
      autocomplete="off"> </div>
  <div class="pmi-adp-search__separate"></div> <button type="submit" class="pmi-adp-search__button pmi-adp-search__button--search" title="Submit search"> <i class="pmi-f pmi-search-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i> </button> <button type="button"
    class="pmi-adp-search__button pmi-adp-search__button--clear hidden" title="Clear search"> <i class="pmi-f pmi-menu-close-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i> </button>
</form>

Text Content

Press Esc to close
PMI Sites
 * Project Management Institute
 * ProjectManagement.com
 * Citizen Developer
 * Disciplined Agile
 * Brightline Initiative
 * Leaders Speak
 * Global Accreditation Center
 * PMI Educational Foundation

Your chapters
{chapterText}


Project Management Institute Skip to main content
Store

 items in cart

Log in
Register
Search PMI
 * Explore
   
   
   EXPLORE
   
   See the latest that PMI has to offer
   
   LATEST FROM PMI
   
    * Solidarity with Ukraine
    * Leaders Speak
    * Official PMI Blog
    * Careers at PMI
    * Press & Media
    * ProjectManagement.com Community
   
   MAKE REALITY
   
    * Explore Make Reality
    * Most Influential Projects
    * Future 50
    * PMI Awards
   
   NEW PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS
   
    * Citizen Developer™
    * Disciplined Agile®
    * Career Navigator
    * PMI Study Hall
    * Kickoff™
    * PMI Picks™
    * Organizational Transformation
   
   NEW IN VIRTUAL LEARNING
   
    * Ascent
    * Basics of Disciplined Agile
    * Virtual Experience Series
    * Wicked Problem Solving®
   
   EXPLORE AGILE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS
   
   2023 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION® REPORT

 * Certifications
   
   
   CERTIFICATIONS
   
   Get recognition for your skills and experience
   
   CERTIFICATION OVERVIEW
   
    * Compare PMI Certifications
    * Certification FAQs
    * Certification Registry
    * Report PDUs
    * Maintain Your Certification
   
   CERTIFICATIONS
   
    * Project Management Professional (PMP)®
    * Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
    * PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®
    * View all Certifications
   
   AGILE CERTIFICATIONS
   
    * Disciplined Agile® Scrum Master (DASM) Certification
    * Disciplined Agile® Senior Scrum Master (DASSM) Certification
    * PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
    * View all Agile Certifications
   
   MICRO-CREDENTIALS
   
    * Agile Metrics Micro-Credential
    * Agile Hybrid Project Pro™ Micro-Credential
    * Organizational Transformation (OT) Series Micro-Credentials
    * View all Micro-Credentials
   
   REPORT PDUS
   
   EXPLORE PMI CERTIFICATIONS

 * Membership
   
   
   MEMBERSHIP
   
   Become a part of the PMI family
   
   MEMBERSHIP OVERVIEW
   
    * Become a Member
    * Student Membership
    * Local Chapters
    * Membership FAQs
    * Business Reading Center
   
   COMMUNITY
   
    * Global Community
    * Volunteering
    * PMImpact
    * Career Central
   
   BECOME A MEMBER
   
   FIND YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER

 * Standards & Publications
   
   
   STANDARDS & PUBLICATIONS
   
   The foundation for project management knowledge
   
   STANDARDS OVERVIEW
   
    * PMBOK® Guide
    * What's New
    * Foundational Standards
    * PMIstandards+™
    * Practice Guides
    * Practice Standards & Frameworks
   
   PUBLICATIONS
   
    * Center Stage Podcast
    * Megatrends
    * PM Network®
    * Project Management Journal®
    * Projectified Podcast®
    * Pulse of the Profession®
   
   FEATURED TOPICS
   
    * Agile
    * Leadership
    * Risk Management
    * Quality Management
    * Strategy
    * View All Topics
   
   CONTENT TYPES
   
    * Articles
    * Case Studies
    * Conference Papers
    * Reports
    * White Papers
   
   ACCESS THE PMBOK® GUIDE
   
   FREE TRIAL PMI DIGITAL TOOLKIT

 * Learning & Events
   
   
   LEARNING & EVENTS
   
   Gain new PMI skills and stay up-to-date
   
   LEARNING
   
    * PMI Study Hall
    * Disciplined Agile® Training
    * Online Courses
    * PMI Training 2023
    * Webinars
    * Academic Programs and Research
    * Authorized Training Partners
   
   EVENTS
   
    * Events Calendar
    * PMI® Global Summit 2023
    * PMXPO 2023
   
   PMI EVENTS 2022 – ON DEMAND
   
   UPSKILL WITH ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION SERIES

 * Business Solutions
   
   
   BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
   
   Learn how PMI can help your company work smarter
   
   BUSINESS SOLUTIONS OVERVIEW
   
    * Become an Authorized Training Partner
    * Knowledge and Networking
    * Talent Management
    * Government Activities and Advocacy
    * Support for Organizations
   
   AGILE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
   
    * Solutions for Agile Teams
    * Solutions for Agile Team Leaders
    * Solutions for Agile Coaches and Consultants
    * Solutions for Software Developers
   
   HOW CAN WE HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION?
   
   LEARN CONSTRUCTION BEST PRACTICES WITH PMI-CP™

 * Store
   
   
   STORE
   
   
   
 * Other PMI Sites
   
   
   PMI SITES
   
    * Project Management Institute
    * ProjectManagement.com
    * Citizen Developer
    * Disciplined Agile
    * Brightline Initiative
    * Leaders Speak
    * Global Accreditation Center
    * PMI Educational Foundation
   
   
   YOUR CHAPTERS
   
   {chapterText}

Search across PMI

Search results loaded

Popular Search Terms
 * * PMBOK Guide
   * PMP
   * PDU
 * * Webinars
   * Program Management
   * Change Management
 * * CAPM
   * PMO
   * Templates
 * * Agile
   * Risk
   * Chapters


Accelerate Your Career
Based on a comprehensive self-assessment, Career Navigator creates an action
plan designed to help you reach your goals.
Learn More
Log In Register
 1. Learning
 2. Publications
 3. PM Network®
 4. Digital Exclusives


WHICH PMO IS RIGHT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

Share
whatsapp Share




Building a project management office (PMO) can bolster an organization’s power
to deliver initiatives with strategic value. But not all PMOs are created equal.
Whether they’re established to provide an enterprise-wide governance framework
or to underpin an organization’s specific initiative, different types of PMOs
provide different levels of guidance, control and support. 

What an organization needs a PMO to do should dictate the type of PMO it
chooses. Of course, some orgs achieve these functions in structures beyond a
PMO, like a value management office or a transformation management office, so
it’s worth noting that other suitable options exist. 

This guide details the most common types of functions each type of PMO can
provide—and what you need to consider when choosing to stand up a PMO.  


ENTERPRISE PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE (EPMO)

Function: An EPMO creates standards, processes and delivery approaches to
improve project performance across the organization—and typically is the go-to
authority for allocating resources to different projects. Designed to operate at
the corporate level, EPMOs hold maximum strategic influence and ensure that
projects are aligned with organizational objectives and priorities. By having
executive support, EPMOs drive mission-critical initiatives, accelerate change
across an organization and report to the highest levels of the organization,
like the COO.

Deploy it: When competing projects and priorities threaten organizational
cohesion, an EPMO can tighten the grip. EPMOs are designed to ensure that the
portfolio aligns with strategic priorities and that each project follows
organizational standards.

Avoid it: Project teams that need day-to-day support are often better served by
PMO models with a more granular focus. Beyond that, smaller and less mature
companies often lack the talent and resources to justify investing in an EPMO. 
 

Sustain it: The power of an EPMO is dependent upon how strongly it’s connected
to the C-suite. If an EPMO succeeds at delivering ongoing value to a company’s
executives, it can thrive as the nerve center of the organization’s project
infrastructure.

PMO perspective: “The success of an EPMO is entirely contingent on the C-suite.
If the C-suite does not value the EPMO or there is turbulence among executives,
the EPMO’s lifespan is short-lived. Otherwise, of all types of PMOs, the EPMO
has the longest life.”
—Abid Mustafa, chairperson, RPA Master–TIAC, and a former PMO leader at multiple
telecommunications firms, Dubai


DEPARTMENTAL PMO

Function: A departmental PMO supports multiple projects at a department or
business unit level. Its primary role is to integrate initiatives of different
sizes within a division, such as IT or finance—from small, short-term
initiatives to multiyear programs with multiple resources and complex
integration of technologies.

Deploy it: A departmental PMO adds value when there’s a need to ensure that all
relevant projects stay within scope and on schedule—and that the teams are
equipped with the resources and support they need.

Avoid it: With a narrow focus, departmental PMOs won’t provide value unless
additional organizational structures are in place to help adequately connect it
to other departments and initiatives—as well as to the C-suite.

Sustain it: The PMO must simultaneously serve the targeted needs within any
department while ensuring that the org-wide vision is carried out across the
project portfolio.

PMO perspective: “Having dedicated project managers support departments while
reporting into the enterprise PMO offers significant benefits. This allows
flexibility to match initiative complexity with individual skill sets, amplifies
knowledge-sharing and ensures alignment across all functions.” 
—Fiona Lin, VP, business transformation, enterprise and agile PMO, Snap Finance,
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 


INDIVIDUAL PMO 

Function: Designed to develop a framework for infrastructure, document
management and training for a single complex project or program, individual PMOs
set basic standards and oversee planning and control activities for a single
project. 

Deploy it: When a particular project is so big, vital or unprecedented, it can
benefit from added attention that a departmental PMO isn’t suited to provide—and
where direct EPMO oversight doesn’t make sense. Prime examples: Change
initiatives or a mission-critical project like building a new healthcare
facility with complex requirements or an infrastructure overhaul with an
accelerated timeline. 

Avoid it: Unless the project or initiative is an exception to the portfolio or
enterprise norms, other PMOs are better suited because they retain an org-wide
perspective. 

Sustain it: Because they’re designed to support specific initiatives, individual
PMOs have relatively short lifespans—sometimes lasting no more than a year or
two. As a result, oversight needs to reflect that sharp focus. 

PMO perspective: “Organizations will customize an individual PMO based on what a
particular change initiative might be. That factor will dictate what kind of
processes they might follow and what type of oversight is warranted.”
—Lindsay Scott, co-founder, House of PMO, London  


SUPPORTIVE PMO 

Function: By leaning on internal experts, a supportive PMO provides a
consultative assist to projects by supplying templates, good practices,
training, access to information and lessons learned from other projects. 

Deploy it: While capable, mature project teams can be trusted to deliver the
goods, they still might benefit from a supportive PMO. With the added insights
and resources gleaned from other successful projects, the two become a powerful
force.   

Avoid it: Inexperienced teams will need a heavier hand to guide them. Supportive
PMOs exist primarily to fill gaps in mature teams that are stretched too thin. 

Sustain it: An effective supportive PMO never stops evaluating the needs of a
project team—no matter how small they might be. These PMOs are designed to
reinforce weak spots—whether it’s granular knowledge or administrative support. 
 

PMO perspective: “If you're a project manager or program manager with a lot of
things to do, a supportive PMO can pick up some of the slack on the admin
side.” 
—Lindsay Scott  


CONTROLLING PMO 

Function: Designed to provide more control by facilitating compliance, the
objective for this type of PMO is to adopt project management frameworks or
approaches and designate specific templates, forms and tools. With a top-down
structure, it might conduct regular audits and require project teams to follow
rigid processes—think “PMO police.”  

Deploy it: This type of PMO delivers the most value in heavily regulated
industries, such as finance or construction, where a failure to adhere to
standards can lead to catastrophic results. If there’s a heightened need to
ensure that a team complies with regulatory and industry standards, a
controlling PMO helps to fortify compliance.  

Avoid it: A controlling PMO is often a poor fit for projects that require
innovation or a constant need to pivot.  

Sustain it: Controlling PMOs often lack active, executive-level champions
because their work is disconnected from the C-suite. As a result, the viability
of a controlling PMO depends on its ability to imbue the projects it oversees
with quality and consistency.  

PMO perspective: “Creating a community of practitioners will champion the
efforts of a controlling PMO—and build a pipeline of education and training as
project manager. Constant communication and reference to the PMO will maximize
the value of the approaches and systems.”  
—Cathy Hoenig, senior manager, People PMO, Rivian, Irvine, California, USA 


PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE/EXCELLENCE 

Function: Establishing such a working group (also known as a center of
excellence) within an organization can help seed a project management framework
and establish a consensus for basic tools, templates and approaches. 

Deploy it: A center of excellence can deliver the most value alongside—or
within—an EPMO by setting or revising organization-wide project standards. It is
often comprised of a collection of internal project experts who work to ensure
that teams across the organization put those standards into practice. 

Avoid it: If there’s no executive-level mandate, the group’s standards might
struggle to gain traction, limiting the value of a center of excellence.  

Sustain it: Organizations need to develop a pipeline of project professionals
with mature skills to ensure there is ample knowledge and a steady supply of
project leaders who can step in to review or maintain standards.  

PMO perspective: “The center of excellence creates the ecosystem for projects.
This is where project leaders come together to establish the templates, tools
and processes that together say: ‘This is how we do stuff around here.’” 
—Lindsay Scott

 

View More Digital Exclusives

Article PMO, Governance, Financial Services 5 January 2023

How to cite this article:

Which PMO Is Right for Your Organization? (2023).

Advertisement




Advertisement


This site uses cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, improve
performance, for analytics, and to show you relevant advertisements. By using
this website you agree to the use of cookies. See our privacy and cookie
policy for more information.
OK


QUICK LINKS

 * Webinars 
 * PMBOK® Guide
 * Online Courses
 * Events
 * Store
 * Explore PMI


CERTIFICATIONS

 * Project Management Professional (PMP)®
 * Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
 * PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
 * Agile Certifications
 * See All Certifications
 * Report PDUs 


COMMUNITY

 * Latest from the Community 
 * Discussions 
 * Templates 
 * Blogs 
 * Volunteering


MEMBERSHIP

 * Membership Overview
 * Become a Member
 * Student Membership
 * Local Chapters
 * Membership FAQs


ORGANIZATION

 * About Us
 * Our Leadership
 * Collaboration
 * Leaders Speak 
 * Official PMI Blog 
 * What is Project Management?
 * Who are Project Managers?
 * Careers

Project Management Institute
PMI registered mark


STAY CONNECTED

Twitter  LinkedIn  Facebook  Instagram  YouTube 


SUPPORT

 * Contact Us
 * Press and Media
 * Store Help

 * Privacy
 * Sitemap
 * Terms of use
 * Purchasing Terms
 * Advertising & Sponsorship

© 2023 Project Management Institute, Inc.

Give Feedback