Survey says...Time for a PMO Transformation

PMOs are in need of a Transformation

Is your PMO successful? A simple question without any qualifications. How would you answer that question? Is your PMO successful?

Surprisingly, only 43% of respondents told us that they rate their own PMO as successful. This is just one of the eye-opening findings from THE PMO SQUAD PMO Research Report. The report is now available for free download. I encourage you to read the report and see how your PMO stacks up with the data.

Without giving away too much, let me just say it's time to transform how we build and use PMOs. Sure, some PMOs have it nailed and they are delivering for their organizations. But the reality is that the vast majority of PMOs just aren't delivering.

How do we know this? Well, the PMO Leaders told us! Not only did they tell us, there is supporting research from multiple reports from various organizations conducting similar research around the world. For the past decade these reports have been repeating the same results, Survey says....PMOs aren't working!

I'm sure you will read our report and question some of the data just as I've done when I've read other reports. I can hear the comments now...Your sample size isn't large enough....My industry isn't represented in your findings....You didn't drill deep enough to get to root cause....Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes some more. There is never complete and comprehensive research to include every question and every person or organization. However, research from year after year, from source after source, paints a picture that I firmly believe. A picture which isn't pretty and let's me believe that it is time to transform how we build and use PMOs.

Top PMO Challenges

We take a slightly different approach with our research. Yes, we collected our own data and came to our own conclusions, but we also compared our findings with 4 other research reports to see how consistent the results are across the research. So what did we find are the top PMO challenges?

1. Improving Value Delivery
2. Resource Management
3. Strategic Allignment
4. PM Skills & Capability

These aren't unique to our report. They are all listed in some way by the other reports we reviewed. Multiple reports, from different organizations, similar findings. Conclusion - listen to the data!

How Do I Transform My PMO

Everyone wants to fast-forward to the ending and find a way to implement the changes, snap a finger and *poof* the world's best PMO is in place. Unfortunately, that's not how it works. The PMO of the future, one which has transformed from the outdated mindsets of governance and process will be customer focused, people driven, service organizations supporting the strategic vision of the organization. They will be embedded within the organization, not an Us vs Them situation as most PMOs are today with Operations vs Projects.

Don't agree with me, that's fine I wouldn't expect everyone to line up behind me. However, I ask that you look at our research and the research of others before you draw any conclusions. See what the data is telling us. Understand that if we keep doing the same thing we will continue to get the same results. Nothing changes if nothing changes.

To read the PMO Research Report from THE PMO SQUAD visit www.thepmosquad.com/research-report and download the report for free. Once you've read the report, drop me a message and let me know how your PMO is doing. You can message me here on LinkedIn or send me an email to [email protected]