Program Management Office
A PMO provides the framework for managing the expected results of designated projects and programs. The key objectives of a PMO can be to:
- Avoid risks associated with start-up and execution of projects
- Manage the leading practices that characterize successful projects and programs.
Some of the project challenges, addressed by a PMO include, lack of robust project processes, insufficient definition and validation of requirements, early identification of project issues, dependencies and risks, lack of metrics for identified and measurable results, resource allocation that ignores competing demands of other initiatives, and slowed progress due to cultural resistance to change.
The key objectives of a PMO are to bring value to the process of managing projects and programs, by being a single-point-of-contact, providing guidance, where necessary challenging plans and results, identifying major issues, interdependencies, and risks, and incorporating leverage points across projects. Collabera's holistic approach, encompasses project and business strategy alignment, resource planning, PMO consolidation and transformation, program delivery support, and progress monitoring. Specific Collabera PMO offerings include:
- Launch - Where none exists, establishing a PMO from "the ground up' can be a significant and time consuming activity. Collabera has the experience to help Jump Start a PMO to ensure early success by providing the end-to-end strategy, roadmap and assets required by a PMO. A sample of PMO Jump Start activities includes charter and stakeholder alignment, communications process, right-size resource allocation, governance, operating process, asset library, and progress metrics. Usually in a matter of weeks Collabera can provide immediate value by assessing the current state, establishing PMO objectives, defining the governance framework, instituting processes, and launching the PMO.
- Optimize -The 2007 Center for Business Practices "State of the PMO' survey reported that "Organizations with more mature PMOs, show significant improvement in measures of performance' including 1) projects aligned to business strategy, 2) project customers satisfied, 3) projects on schedule and budget, 4) resources allocated optimally, and 5) strategies executed to plan. As PMOs are optimized, they are substantially better at meeting key success factors including effective sponsorship, accountability, competent staff, quality leadership, and demonstrated value. The Collabera PMO optimize model, starts with current PMO people, processes and tools, and leverages these to form an enhanced PMO operating environment.
- Consolidate - For various reasons, over time, many organizations have established multiple PMOs, and are now looking to reduce costs by consolidating the PMO footprint, without impacting the ability to deliver project objectives. These PMOs may include multiple PMOs in a functional area, such as IT, a mixture of IT and functional business area PMOs, project, program or enterprise-wide PMOs that are often geographically dispersed, and PMOs that exist in multiple corporate entities such as divisions, subsidiaries, or partner companies. Collabera provides the framework and leadership to help senior managers navigate this complex process.
- Outsource - Quite often an organization will have the functional and technical resources necessary to establish and operate a PMO, but not the project management resources required to execute delivery of the PMO function. Collabera has the combination of resources, methodology, and assets ready to provide unbiased oversight and project transparency, incorporating a balance of onsite and remote resources. In addition to standard PMO activities, the Collabera PMO outsource model incorporates project initiation, planning, design, testing, go-live implementation and support, and in-process and post-project reviews as necessary for effective project oversight and organizational transparency.
