The Many Benefits Of An Agile PMO: What You Should Know

Shutterstock

The task of integrating a Project Management Office (PMO) in an agile environment could prove difficult, but if done with thorough research and implementation, it can substantially improve efficiency in project execution and production, lowering costs and reducing risks for the organization.

Getting Buy-In

In order to do this, there first has to be complete support from the core team as well as senior management. For example, at a large bank that I worked with, we got buy-in all the way from the senior board to operations in establishing a PMO for a consistent approach to managing multiple projects enterprise-wide. An established PMO could face major resistance if it has not gained top-down support. This can often be challenging and is especially so in an agile environment where teams are more tightly controlled and agile reporting is communicated aggressively and continuously in real-time. The best way to avoid killing the PMO in its early stages is to show value quickly and engage senior management in the process of reenforcing a support culture.

Why One Size Doesn't Fit All

The PMO performs the assurance of best practices in managing projects and working in line with the principles of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). But one size doesn’t fit all, and hence, the approach of setting up the PMO should take into consideration the current organizational culture, current practices and the types of current in-flight projects as well as challenges. The PMO would also manage budgets, scheduling, resource allocations, human capital and oversight of effective communications. For example, I have seen that PMOs can differ a lot depending on the function they are reporting into. A PMO reporting into a COO often oversees projects for improvising operations, and a PMO reporting into a CTO often oversees technology projects, whereas a PMO reporting into the CFO tower may oversee projects for managing budgets and capacity planning.

Consultative Versus Bureaucracy

In setting up a PMO in an agile environment, one should consider that PMO is often viewed as a bureaucracy. It is often helpful to establish the PMO in a more advisory, consultative role to support the lines of business. Having a strategy that implements the current organizational structure and methodologies will create an optimum balance between the PMO, executive management methods, team roles and responsibilities and enhance the organizational culture of support. This would involve research and fact-finding ahead of assembling a PMO team to better ensure high-value delivery in early stages.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2018/06/13/the-many-benefits-of-an-agile-pmo-what-you-should-know/