For a project to run successfully in a company or business, the person needed is the Project Management Office or PMO.
PMO helps companies to organize and optimize their resources to complete ongoing projects.
So, it is undeniable that PMO is an essential thing in the field of project management.
In this article, wannawishyou will provide an overview of what PMO is. Come on, see the following article!
What is Project Management Office?
According to Wrike, a project management office is a team or department, internal or external, that creates and maintains project management standards within a company.
The PMO department records the progress status of each project undertaken and ensures that the tasks are carried out as well as possible.
PMO also ensures that the company can complete each project on time and within the specified budget.
Quoting from Tombs, 3 types of PMOs have different levels of control over company projects, including:
- Directive: This PMO controls the company’s project because it regulates its continuity directly. The level of control that the PMO has over the company’s projects is very high.
- Supportive: This type of PMO takes on the role of a ‘consultant’ on projects carried out by the company by providing training to access information. The level of control held by this type of PMO is low.
- Controlling: This type of PMO assists while ensuring that every employee uses the tools, standards, and project work processes. The level of control of this type of PMO over company projects is moderate.
Usually, in a project management office department, there are several positions such as;
- director
- project manager
- program manager
- project scheduler
- project planner
- project controller
- administrative staff
Project Management Office Duties and Responsibilities
The PMO will maintain the sustainability of all projects carried out by the company and ensure that these projects follow the company’s strategy.
Companies also use PMOs to ensure they can complete their projects and work on time.
Thus, it can speed up business processes.
Adapting from Indeed, other duties are carried out as part of the PMO, including:
- establish standards and processes for each project
- maintain transparency of each project to help companies make effective decisions
- design project proposal
- assist the project manager and team members with administrative and operational assistance
- help smooth the flow of information and communication in project work
- track the progress of each project to ensure the company completes it according to the budget, resources, and schedule that has been determined
- select and prioritize projects to be carried out based on corporate strategy and company goals
- provides a way and template for project work based on previous successful projects
- facilitate the project team to streamline their work processes as well as provide mentoring and coaching around project work
- manage documentation of project work
Skills Required
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Suppose you are interested in working in a project management office team. In that case, you need a special skill set to be successful.
Launching from Indeed, here are some of the skills needed.
- Attention to detail: When assessing a project, PMO workers must pay close attention to detail to ensure that current and completed projects align with the company’s mission.
- Communication: PMO will communicate with many departments when working on a project. PMO must be able to communicate well both in writing and verbally. Not only that, but active listening skills must also be used to understand the needs of others.
- Project management: To help the company achieve its goals, PMO workers must be able to prioritize and manage the various projects the company is working on.
- Good vision: When working on a project, the PMO can see the company’s long and short-term goals to do the project in line with the company’s mission.
- Organization: Organizing skills are needed by PMOs because you have to track the progress of each project. With this capability, you can organize important data and information, so it doesn’t fall apart when needed.
- Problem-solving: When there is a delay in the work timeline or an excessive budget, the PMO can use problem-solving skills to find creative ways so that the company can get back to working on the project according to its goals.
- Risk management: PMOs sometimes have to take risks and try new ideas for a project to be successful. On the other hand, it’s also necessary to have a backup plan in case a new idea doesn’t go well.
- Stay calm under pressure: PMOs manage multiple tasks simultaneously and face challenges when working on projects. Therefore, PMOs need to be able to react calmly and appropriately to overcome these challenges.
That is some important information about the project management office or PMO.
Apart from this information, you can learn more about project management by reading various articles on the wannawishyou Blog.
