This document discusses the functions and competency levels of a Project Management Office (PMO). It describes the core functions of a PMO which include project management competency, services, and operations support. For each function, key responsibilities are outlined at a high level. Additionally, the document presents a competency continuum that shows the increasing roles and capabilities of a PMO across six levels, from basic project oversight to a center of excellence.

1. PMO FUNCTIONS &
COMPETENCY
CONTINUUM
PRESENTED BY: KATHY JERMAN
JERMAN PROJECT CONSULTING, INC.
October 27, 2015

2. PMO FUNCTIONS
Project Mgmt.
Competency
Project Mgmt.
Services
Project
Operations
Support
▪Competency Requirements
▪Education & Training
▪Professional Certification
▪Career Path Management
▪Policies & Procedures
▪Standards
▪Project Mgmt. Methodology
▪Mentoring
▪Process Control, Support &
Improvement
▪Project Mgmt. Info System (PMIS)
▪Systems & Software Mgmt.
▪Resource Management
▪Communications

3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY
Project Mgmt.
Competency
Project Mgmt.
Services
Project
Operations
Support
▪Competency Requirements
▪Education & Training
▪Professional Certification
▪Career Path Management

4. COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS
Establishment of project competency requirements
at all levels
Assesses individual competency and skill training
needs
Determines need for external resources
Develops training plan

5. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Development of a comprehensive curriculum which
includes such topics as:
Fundamentals
Advanced and specialized tools
Methodology training
Processes and procedures
Certification preparation
Proposed audiences: PM’s, Project Team, Sponsors/Executives, & other Stakeholders

6. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Recognized professional preparation
Demonstrates consistency of project management
competency to Internal and external stakeholders and
clients
Develops and promotes certification programs
Contributes to individual career progression

7. CAREER PATH MANAGEMENT
Establishes a career path for project managers
Provides and documents professional
advancement
Incorporates coaching

8. PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Project Mgmt.
Competency
Project Mgmt.
Services
Project
Operations
Support
▪Policies & Procedures
▪Standards
▪Project Mgmt. Methodology
▪Mentoring
▪Process Control, Support &
Improvement

9. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Project management methodology implementation
PMO integration
Project management
Change management
Project reporting

10. STANDARDS
Incorporates best practices and business standards
Establish time and status reporting standards
Develop project management documentation
standards
Define technology standards

11. PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY
Develop, implement, and maintain project
management methodology
Evaluate project management methodology
use and performance

12. MENTORING
Provides technical expertise
Facilitates project team activities
Enables evaluation of project manager and team
Delivers transfer knowledge to project managers
Avails project management mentoring & support to
Executives, as needed

13. PROCESS CONTROL, SUPPORT, AND
IMPROVEMENT
Project Selection
Proposal development
Planning consolidation
Project integration
Integrated scheduling and cost control
Estimating
Program reporting
Document control and archiving

14. PROCESS CONTROL, SUPPORT, AND
IMPROVEMENT CON’T
Risk Management
Methodology management
Contract management
Change management
Project auditing
Project recovery
Process improvement

15. PROJECT OPERATIONS SUPPORT
Project Mgmt.
Competency
Project Mgmt.
Services
Project
Operations
Support
▪Project Mgmt. Info System (PMIS)
▪Systems & Software Mgmt.
▪Resource Management
▪Communications

16. PROJECT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (PMIS)
Establish and maintain the Project Management
Information System (PMIS)
Arrange and manage PMIS connectivity with other
systems: Finance, HR, Procurement, Legal
Specify project management reporting requirements
Establish and maintain project management
database
PMIS support – input and output

17. SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT
Ensure system and software standards are applied
Acquire and provide software access
Implement phone and cell, voicemail, e-mail
systems, internet access, computer capability and
network connectivity
Manage internal project management software
development

18. PMO FACILITIES
PMO workspaces
Conference and meeting rooms
Remote and onsite facilities
Reproduction, fax, presentation equipment,
furnishings

19. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Resource management
Allocation of resources
Resource conflicts resolution

20. COMMUNICATIONS
Guidance on reporting
Access to information
Meeting guidelines
Distribution process
Metrics for performance reports
Process for administrative closure

21. PMO COMPETENCY CONTINUUM
Center of
Excellence
Project
Office
PMO –
Level 1
PMO –
Level 2
PMO –
Level 3
Project
Oversight
• One project
• One project
manager
Strategic Goal
Alignment
• Possible
multiple
projects
• Multiple
projects
• VP of PM
• Enterprisewide
support staff
Process
Control
• Multiple
projects
• Multiple
project
managers
• Program
manager
Process Support
• Multiple
projects
• Multiple
project
managers
• Program
manager
• Dedicated
PMO support
staff
Process
Improvement
• Multiple
projects
• Multiple
project
managers
• Program
director
• Dedicated
PMO
support &
technical
staff

22. THANK YOU!
Jerman Project Consulting, Inc.
kathy.jerman@jermanprojectconsulting.com
or klcowell@verizon.net
(813)310-7359