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PMO structureProgramme management

Programme management FAQsimage
Simon BuehringWhat is difference between project and program management?

Key takeaways

A PMO should be designed to fit the organisation and the level of control needed.

  • PMOs can operate at portfolio, programme and project levels, and may be permanent, temporary, or mixed.How do you compare programme and project management?
  • There is no one-size-fits-all model, so structure should reflect culture, goals, resources and policies.
  • Effective PMOs provide an independent critical eye through scrutiny, reporting, and challenge on risks, issues and change.
  • Common reporting standards and dashboards strengthen governance and make progress transparent to senior decision-makers.How do you plan for a project or programme?
  • Clear roles, from PMO head to specialists and officers, help avoid overlaps, manage dependencies, and improve delivery discipline.
PMO structure

PMO Structure | Project Management Office Structure

  • What are the five phases of a project?Project level (project management).

Within each of these levels, the PMO structure which is set up maybe permanent, temporary, or a combination of the two.

A key point about PMOs is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach which works for all organisations. Every organisation has its own structure, culture, business goals, resources, policies and unique circumstances. When designing a suitable PMO structure, it is important to consider all these factors.

P3O model example

PMO model example

PMO roles and responsibilities

The following are the project-level What is the difference between PM and Agile?PMO roles and responsibilities.

PMO roles and responsibilities

PMO headWhat is the difference between programme & project management?

The purpose is to manage the PMO. The role requires strong leadership and management skills, and a strong knowledge of portfolio, programme and project management (PPM).

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement the terms of reference for What is the difference between project and programme management?projects ;
  • Work alongside others to define and implement the governance framework for projects;What is the life cycle of a project?
  • Working with business owners, project and team managers, create strategies for effective project planning , monitoring and delivery;What is the RACI matrix used for?
  • Support the

  • Build and maintain a repository of good project documentation.

Project officer/coordinator/administratorWhat are program management issues?

The purpose is to improve the planning and delivery process by collecting and maintaining data in a consistent form.

Responsibilities

  • Implement guidelines, procedures and templates to collect and maintain consistent data;What are the benefits of a programme structure?
  • Facilitate the creation and update of project plans ;What are the characteristics of program management?
  • Implement regular progress reporting and monitor project progress;
  • Assist the project manager in the collation of highlight reports;
  • Establish and maintain an information management system;What are the key elements of program management?
  • Establish risk, issue and change control processes and templates, and assist project staff in their delivery;
  • Manage or facilitate the quality review process;
  • Provide a coordination service for the project.What does program management mean?

Functional roles

In addition to the role above, there are several functional roles which may be performed by either the project specialist or project officer roles. These are:

  • Benefits and value – to ensure there is a consistent approach to benefits and value management on projects;What is a group of projects called?
  • Commercial – to ensure the organisation acts as an ‘informed customer’ when it comes to procurement and commercial contracts;
  • Communications and stakeholder engagement – to ensure effective management of stakeholders;
  • Information management – be the custodian of all master copies of project information;What is a program vs project life cycle?
  • Consultancy and performance management – provide internal consultancy and expertise in project management processes ;What is a typical program management structure?
  • Finance – establish professional financial control within projects;
  • Issue – ensure effective issue control processes are in place on projects;
  • Change control – ensure effective change control processes are in place on projects;What is an example of program management?
  • Planning and estimating – facilitate the development and maintenance of project plans and dependencies;What is difference between project and program management?
  • Quality assurance – ensure the projects’ products are capable of realizing the benefits expected;
  • Resource management – ensure that current and future projects have the right human resources with the right skills at the right time and ensure those resources are used efficiently;
  • Risk – ensure that projects have effective What is programme or project risk?risk management processes in place;
  • Reporting – collect data and generate reports to different stakeholders;What is the difference between programme & project management?
  • Secretariat/administrator – provide project administrative support;
  • Tools expert – provide expertise in software tools which can support the change environment.