Donna FitzgeraldI just read an interesting quote that said centralized PMOs experienced a higher degree of PPM maturity than decentralized PMOs. Yep, that’s absolutely true and NOPE it doesn’t mean that if you centralize your PMO you will instantly become more mature. It means that at least up until 2009, centralization itself was linked to maturity. When Lars and I wrote the PPM maturity model in 2007 I was pretty certain that a centralized PMO simply wasn’t sustainable below a level three maturity for a whole bunch of theoretical reasons but more important because I’d never seen one in place that was working well (and I tend to be a big believer in letting evidence influence my conclusions).
In 2009, tremendous interest from the CXO level in better control of their investments has caused organizations that could barely spell PM to decide to create some form of centralized or enterprise PMO. Whether these PMOs will change the outlook for success since they’re being sponsored by the CEO is still open to debate. My guess is if the PMO is focused on portfolio management this trend will end up being both positive and long lasting. If the PMOs that are being established are focused on project management execution I think they’ll be a flash in the pan. For any of you attending the first Gartner PPM & IT Governance Summit starting tomorrow; I encourage you to go hear Penny Dent present her journey toward a working centralized PMO. She’s a terrific speaker with a lot to share and I know you won’t be disappointed. She’s also living proof of why I think truly centralized PMOs tend to only work at the later maturity levels.
For those of you who won’t be attending our get-together, let me pose the question: “Do you think a centralized PMO can be effective before an organization has developed a sense that they are a project oriented company?”
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Category: PMO PPM Summit Tags: EPMO, PPM Maturity, PPM Summit
