Are PMO Managers Just Like Operations Managers?
Lindsay Scott
Co-founder of House of PMO - The Professional Body for PMO and Director at PMO Learning - The Learning Company for PMO Professionals
I had a fascinating conversation with a PMO Manager earlier in the week, who described the work they have done in embedding project management best practices across an organisation with low maturity. One thing they said struck me. They talked about having to talk to everyone in the business first to understand where they needed to focus. They talked to the Project Managers, department heads, executives, even the lorry drivers.
Now, if you were trying to explain to a lorry driver why you were there, asking them questions about how they were working and whether they understood why they were being asked to do certain things, would you introduce yourself as the PMO Manager? How would you explain your role quickly so someone like the lorry driver might understand who you were and what you were doing? My thought was - you might introduce yourself as an Operations Manager, but specifically for projects or things the business wanted to do differently.
The Role of a PMO Manager
A PMO Manager supports the planning and execution of projects within an organisation, ensuring they align with business goals and have everything possible available to help ensure they are delivered on time and within budget. They function similarly to an Operations Manager but focus on project management (or programmes, portfolio. . . )
Simplifying the Role for Everyone
To make the role of a PMO Manager understandable to everyone in the business, including lorry drivers, it helps to draw parallels to the more familiar role of an Operations Manager. Here's a straightforward explanation:
Project Coordination
The PMO Manager provides the support and services so all projects are planned, started, and completed on time. They coordinate the efforts of various projects and project teams, much like how an Operations Manager ensures daily operations run smoothly.
Setting Standards and Processes
They establish guidelines and processes for managing projects, ensuring consistency and predictability. This is similar to how an Operations Manager sets standards for daily tasks to maintain efficiency and quality.
Providing Support and Resources
The PMO Manager ensures project teams have the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed, just as an Operations Manager provides the necessary resources for operational teams.
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Monitoring Progress
They keep track of project progress, checking if projects are on schedule and within budget. This is akin to how an Operations Manager monitors daily activities to ensure everything runs efficiently.
Problem Solving
They identify and resolve issues that could delay or derail projects, similar to how an Operations Manager addresses problems in daily operations to keep everything on track.
Reporting
The PMO Manager reports on project status to senior management, providing updates and insights. This mirrors the Operations Manager's role in reporting operational performance to higher-ups.
Explaining the Role to a Lorry Driver
When talking to someone like a lorry driver, you might say:
"I'm like an Operations Manager, but for special tasks or projects the business wants to accomplish. I make sure these projects are well-planned, properly resourced, and completed on time. Just like an Operations Manager ensures daily tasks run smoothly, I ensure our projects are successful."
This simple explanation helps demystify the role and highlights its importance in a way that's easy to understand, regardless of someone's position in the company.
Understanding and embedding project management best practices in an organisation requires clear communication and a relatable approach. By likening the role of a PMO Manager to that of an Operations Manager, but specifically for projects, we can help everyone in the business, from executives to lorry drivers, grasp the value and function of this crucial role.
What do you think? PMO - Project Management Operations??
Mechatronics Student | AUT Student Ambassador
3moThis is a really interesting perspective! Given the similarities between a PMO Manager and an Operations Manager, how do you think operations best practices can be applied to project management to improve efficiency and effectiveness across the organization?
Director and Founder of Raj Khanna Associates Limited
3moA Corporate Portfolio Management Office should be treated the same as Human Resources, IT, Procurement departments and should be a permanent feature rather than a temporary one. Colleagues working within it should have the necessary qualifications, similar to CIPD etc. Also, some of the more senior colleagues should be Chartered Project Professionals (ChPP) from Association for Project Management to demonstrate they not only do they have the necessary qualification but able to apply it to a complex change initiative. Praxis Framework Professional Award from APMG International is an excellent route to achieving Chartership. Finally head of Corporate Portfolio Management Office should be part of the Senior Leadership Team of the organisation to check if right resources are available to manage change initiatives, be part of the discussion to check if the change initiative is aligned to strategic priorities and what the priorities should be.
Operations Manager at RSA
3moI made the sideways step in my organisation from PMO consultant to Operations Manager. There are definitely a lot of similarities in terms of the day to day work and transferable skills. Planning, stakeholder management and such.
Business Analyst | Squirrel Matador 🐿️
4moI have been saying for some time that a portfolio PMO can also be thought about as an "office of the COO", as it needs to coordinate across operational BAU and change. A reporting line into the COO is also my preferred option.
Head of PMO
4moGreat analogy. Anything we can do to help describe what we do to people who don’t understand what a PMO does is a good thing.