FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

Putting Theory into Practice

CEO Message

Why Do You Need a PMO?

White Paper

Performance DNA Analysis

White Paper

Archives

View Previous PM/Packets

EPM Roadmap™ Service
(Enterprise Project Management)

Cognitive Technologies delivers the services you need to deftly navigate the twists and turns of a Microsoft EPM implementation. At each phase in the EPM Roadmap™ your organization realizes added value. When your journey is complete, we will have together optimized your people, processes and systems. The benefits are straight forward. Projects will be aligned to the organization's strategic objectives and they will be on schedule, on budget and meet or exceed expectations.  Learn More

PM EVENTS

National

October 18-21, 2008
PMI Global Congress 2008—North America

PMI Training Calendar

Listing of training events offered thru PMI

Local

Atlanta, GA

Austin, Texas

Baltimore, MD

Washington, DC

Richmond, VA

Page 5 – Why Do You Need a PMO?

Summary

While not every project or organization will need a PMO, the situations described in this paper warrant consideration. Projects of a highly complex nature — strategic projects, large projects, multiple simultaneous projects, and programs — can benefit from a PMO. Key benefits of PMOs include better control (of schedule, scope, standards, and resources), collaboration (between teams and individuals), and communication. Each of these has an impact on important project results, such as reduced time to market, improved quality, functionality that matches scope, and managed project costs. In addition, well-managed PMOs can also improve customer satisfaction and enhance the professional image of the organization.

More and more organizations are creating PMOs to improve project success rates, implement standard practices and meet strategic objectives. However, simply having a PMO is not a guarantee of success. Other factors, such as tools, standards, practices, processes, skilled staff, and executive sponsorship are required when implementing a successful PMO across an organization. In addition, a PMO implementation warrants careful consideration of the organization’s existing structures, methodology, staff, and culture. Successful implementation will require a well-thought-out methodology and comprehensive plan to ensure success.

References:

i Frame, J.D. and Block, T.R., The Project Office, Crisp Publications, Menlo Park, CA, 1998.

ii Rad, Parviz F. and Levin, Ginger, The Advanced Project Management Office: A
Comprehensive Look at Function and Implementation, St Lucie Press, 2002.

iii Ibid.

iv Ware, Lorraine Cosgrove, Best Practices for Project Management Offices, CIO
Research Reports, July 2003.

v Sarbanes Oxley Act, Section 404, US Congress, 2002.

vi Davenport,T and Beck, J. The Attention Economy: Understanding the New Currency of
Business, 2002.

About Cognitive Technologies

Cognitive Technologies, Inc. (www.cognitive-technologies.com) provides consulting, methodologies, workshops and tools to Fortune 1000 and government clients, specializing in project management, software development, PMO setup, project implementation, user-centered requirements, and test plan design. It also helps clients achieve improved business value of technologybased projects through job re-definition, change management, systems implementation and operational adoption of new technology.

1 2 3 4 5

Projects of a highly complex nature can
benefit from a PMO.