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Last Updated: December 18, 2006. Thanks to Sarah G. for her question! Read on!

Question: What do you consider to be the first step in establishing a PMO in an organization? - George K., Pennsylvania, USA

Answer:

The first step in establishing a successful PMO is to establish a strategic link between the PMO and one or more organizational strategies. PMOs that are well aligned to the business units, divisions, or organization that will be served have a much higher likelihood of success. Ensuring this alignment early eliminates much of the "second guessing" that occurs in many organizations where the PMO is forced to continually justify its existence as a result of not being clearly aligned to a relevant organizational outcome.

Need to start? Develop and present to management a business case that addresses current problems or challenges in the organization and that defines how the PMO can reduce or eliminate these challenges. Selling a business case to management presents the PMO in the same manner in which other areas of the organization (sales, marketing, product development, etc.) present ideas and gain management buy-in.

Question: What is the PMO's role in enforcing standards and managing standards compliance? Sarah G., California, USA

Answer:

That's a tricky question... you don't want to create the "PMO Police" in your organization! The idea of the PMO as an organization with authority to manage and enforce standards is not new but does represent a concept that has not caught on as well as many PMO professionals might like. There's nothing inherently wrong with being an enforcer but management must create the directive rather than the PMO merely trying to assume the role. If this is a path that you want to head down, start my gaining management alignment, then develop and socialize the processes and standards that you hope to implement and enforce, and then start with a "soft" break-in period to help prepare the organization to use the developed standards. If all of that goes well, start checking up on your project teams to validate compliance and politely remind those who are not falling in line about the importance of standards and processes.

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