The two-year journey building a PMO office has proven to be successful. The PMO services are appreciated and bring in substantial impacts on the business. Let me to summarize the approach to help you if you encounter a similar opportunity within your organization.
1. Understanding the organization Before building a PMO, it's crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the organization, including its politics and the personalities of your team. Taking the time to observe and gather insights over a quarter or two allows a thorough understanding to be developed.
2. Building trust: Establishing trust is of utmost importance for the success of the PMO. Start by implementing helpful and less disruptive changes that demonstrate the value of the PMO. It's also essential to maintain transparency, particularly in business engagements, so that the team perceives the PMO as a valuable resource rather than a threat.
3. Celebrating small wins: Acknowledging and celebrating small wins is vital for boosting morale and showcasing the positive impact of the PMO. Recognize achievements such as process improvements, successful project deliveries, and improved stakeholder relationships to reinforce the value of the PMO and motivate the team.
3. Defining project management standards: Clearly defining project management standards is crucial to uphold professionalism and ensure consistency across projects. This includes establishing project lifecycles, methodologies, templates, and best practices that align with industry standards and the organization's needs.
4. Creating change management plans: Change is inevitable when implementing a new PMO. Develop and execute change management plans to effectively manage the transition. This involves addressing resistance, communicating the benefits of the PMO, and providing the necessary support and training to ensu re a smooth adoption of new processes and tools.
5. Waiting for the best opportunity: Patience is key in waiting for the right opportunity to make a significant difference. Identify strategic projects or areas where the PMO can add substantial value and focus your efforts and resources accordingly.
6. Recruiting an elite team: Assembling a high-performing team is critical for the PMO's success. Consider hiring individuals who excel in their respective areas, particularly in tactical project management functions. This ensures that the team possesses the necessary expertise and effectiveness to drive results.
7. Creating a collaborative team culture: Foster a collaborative team culture within the PMO. Encourage open communication, knowledge sharing, and teamwork among team members. Cultivate an environment that values diver se perspectives and promotes the generation of ideas. This collaborative culture enhances innovation, problem-solving, and overall team performance.
By following these approaches and adapting them to your organization's specific context, you can increase the likelihood of building a successful PMO office. Remember that building a PMO is an ongoing journey that requires continuous evaluation, adaptation, and improvement to meet the evolving needs of the organization.
1. Understanding the organization Before building a PMO, it's crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the organization, including its politics and the personalities of your team. Taking the time to observe and gather insights over a quarter or two allows a thorough understanding to be developed.
2. Building trust: Establishing trust is of utmost importance for the success of the PMO. Start by implementing helpful and less disruptive changes that demonstrate the value of the PMO. It's also essential to maintain transparency, particularly in business engagements, so that the team perceives the PMO as a valuable resource rather than a threat.
3. Celebrating small wins: Acknowledging and celebrating small wins is vital for boosting morale and showcasing the positive impact of the PMO. Recognize achievements such as process improvements, successful project deliveries, and improved stakeholder relationships to reinforce the value of the PMO and motivate the team.
3. Defining project management standards: Clearly defining project management standards is crucial to uphold professionalism and ensure consistency across projects. This includes establishing project lifecycles, methodologies, templates, and best practices that align with industry standards and the organization's needs.
4. Creating change management plans: Change is inevitable when implementing a new PMO. Develop and execute change management plans to effectively manage the transition. This involves addressing resistance, communicating the benefits of the PMO, and providing the necessary support and training to ensu re a smooth adoption of new processes and tools.
5. Waiting for the best opportunity: Patience is key in waiting for the right opportunity to make a significant difference. Identify strategic projects or areas where the PMO can add substantial value and focus your efforts and resources accordingly.
6. Recruiting an elite team: Assembling a high-performing team is critical for the PMO's success. Consider hiring individuals who excel in their respective areas, particularly in tactical project management functions. This ensures that the team possesses the necessary expertise and effectiveness to drive results.
7. Creating a collaborative team culture: Foster a collaborative team culture within the PMO. Encourage open communication, knowledge sharing, and teamwork among team members. Cultivate an environment that values diver se perspectives and promotes the generation of ideas. This collaborative culture enhances innovation, problem-solving, and overall team performance.
By following these approaches and adapting them to your organization's specific context, you can increase the likelihood of building a successful PMO office. Remember that building a PMO is an ongoing journey that requires continuous evaluation, adaptation, and improvement to meet the evolving needs of the organization.
| Change management would start from a very minor ask. Then, take small steps towards the goal, one step at a time. Ideally, the changes are so small that we can get it done without people noticing the difference or raising any objections. We can often establish a social norm to influence such minor changes. | |
