Why EPMO could improve the chance of success of strategic initiatives?

In this article, I would like to share some thoughts coming from my practice to answer three key questions 1) the challenges senior executives probably facing 2) How an EPMO can support on 3) The key elements deserve attentions when try to set up a EPMO.

In a big business, senior executives, sometimes, face the situation that strategy formulation and initiatives have been completed, but ,enacting the business tactics in the real world cannot be guaranteed, mainly manifested in: 1. Unable to define priorities for the bundle of strategic projects .2. unable to clearly define the Benefits brought by project/program 3. There is no effective governance mechanism for portfolio/program/project management .

Therefore, I would like to briefly share some points on why creating an EPMO is a one way to help. An EPMO, stands for enterprise project management office. it mainly provides organization with three capabilities 1) supports for strategic planning and portfolio management to connect strategy to tactics 2) strong governance of program and project implementation to make sure benefit can be achieved 3) Provides service acting as operational excellence center. From the view of management, EPMO enact a set of standardized frameworks to manage complex large-scale changes and continuously optimize them, further, an EPMO director improve the communication between departments and help to overcome the potential blind points .

Last but not least, some key elements of setting up an EPMO, we need to put some focus, are: The first and most important is to find the pain points struggled by your manager and try to bring the EPMO capability map to connect to pain points, specifying how an EPMO will benefit to company. if the proposal has been accepted preliminary, the next step I will recommend to specify do what and how to do, they are : articulate the vision , clarify the blueprint (mainly are operating model ) , specify the benefits and finalize the business case for final approve. it is important for senior executives to review the business case ,which give the comprehensive view on why we need EPMO (strategic view ), what we should do ( operating view), how can we benefit ( financial view) and what ‘s the potential hurdles (risk view ).?

I hope you you enjoin reading, take some points away and get connected !

Chen