PMO Setup | What Are The Top Mistakes PMOs Are Making?

Based on our research, we find the followings are the top mistakes PMOs are making: 

• Can't keep the balance of managing more projects vs. controlling the quality of service. The more projects you'd like to maintain, the more responsible you will have. There should be a good awareness of the bandwidth and capability before taking any new project into PMO. PMO needs to prioritize projects and only approve the projects with proper assessment. Avoid burnout. Maintain the quality first. That's where PMO values live. 
• Lack of flexibility. PMO defines standards. However, PMO has to apply the standard with flexibility according to the deep understanding of the customer needs/WIIFM (what's in it for me), organization culture, and the project-specific situations. Failing to do these can cause standard abuse, thus bringing unnecessary overhead and conflict. We define a standard to help rather than restrict. 
• Measure the wrong thing. The ultimate measure should be values that PMO brings to the business, not how people follow PMO standards.
• Failed to show the business results. The organization does not easily get PMO value. As a result, PMO needs to advocate its value. PMO creates values and has to show them.

To test if you are on the wrong path, think about the value PMO brings to the organization and what happens if organotin lose it. PMO presence relies on unique value, not the standard, relationship, or process. ​