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1 - INTRODUCTION

• Supportive. Supportive PMOs provide a consultative role to projects by supplying templates, best
practices, training, access to information and lessons learned from other projects. This type of PMO 1
serves as a project repository. The degree of control provided by the PMO is low.
• controlling. Controlling PMOs provide support and require compliance through various means.
Compliance may involve adopting project management frameworks or methodologies, using specific
templates, forms and tools, or conformance to governance. The degree of control provided by the PMO
is moderate.
• directive. Directive PMOs take control of the projects by directly managing the projects. The degree of
control provided by the PMO is high.

The PMO integrates data and information from corporate strategic projects and evaluates how higher level
strategic objectives are being fulfilled. The PMO is the natural liaison between the organization’s portfolios,
programs, projects, and the corporate measurement systems (e.g. balanced scorecard).
The projects supported or administered by the PMO may not be related, other than by being managed together.
The specific form, function, and structure of a PMO are dependent upon the needs of the organization that it
supports.

A PMO may have the authority to act as an integral stakeholder and a key decision maker throughout the life
of each project, to make recommendations, or to terminate projects or take other actions, as required, to remain
aligned with the business objectives. In addition, the PMO may be involved in the selection, management, and
deployment of shared or dedicated project resources.

A primary function of a PMO is to support project managers in a variety of ways which may include, but are not
limited to:
• Managing shared resources across all projects administered by the PMO;

• Identifying and developing project management methodology, best practices, and standards;
• Coaching, mentoring, training, and oversight;

• Monitoring compliance with project management standards, policies, procedures, and templates by means
of project audits;

• Developing and managing project policies, procedures, templates, and other shared documentation
(organizational process assets); and
• Coordinating communication across projects.

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