Successful Projects benefit Organisations and Customers.  However, Studies say only 35-40% of the Projects are successful.  Presence of Project Management Office(PMO) and buy in from key stake holders (Functional manager, Project manger etc) are vital for executing projects. Few aspects that influence project success are

 

  • Organisation Type
  • Project Management Office as Catalyst

 

Organisation Type

Organisation Type like Strong Matrix and Projectized allocate resources to Projects. Organisation Type like Weak Matrix and Functional are focused towards Operations. Functional Managers allocate resources to Projects. Organisation Type like Balanced Matrix both Project Manger and Functional Managers allocate resources.

 

During Planning , Project Manager should share and agree upon

  • Work Breakdown Structure
  • Resource Histogram
  • Create RACI
  • Define Project Success Criteria, Thresholds (with help of Stake holders)
  • Agree on Monitoring Periods

 

During Execution, Monitoring & Control, Project Manager should explain

  • Schedule (with minimum resources)
  • Schedule (with full resources)
  • Revise RACI (based on changed situation)
  • Publish Project Report that articulates Project Health report (based on Project Success criteria)
  • Update Stakeholders on Risks Occurred and Impact on Reserves

 

During Closure

  • Update Key Stakeholders on Impact (created or could create)
  • Lessons Learned
  • WBS (for future projects)
  • Risk Register (for future projects)

 

Studies say Presence of PMO (Project Management Office) significantly improved success rate of the Project (even in Functional or Weak Matrix Organisations)

 

 

Project Management Office as Catalyst:

 

During Planning stage can PMO can provide

  • WBS Templates
  • Risk Register
  • Templates for Estimation (cost/schedule)
  • Provide Preferred Vendor list (procurement)
  • Provide Mentor Mentee support (if requested)

 

During Execution, Monitoring & Control, PMO can provide

  • Platform for Sharing documents & plans with in the team
  • Platform for sharing documents & plans to Customer
  • Predictive Analysis of available resources for this Project (based on progress of other projects, other programs, other portfolios and operations)
  • Provide dynamic reports of available time of shared resources (from other projects/programs/portfolios)
  • Empower Project teams through Training, Coaching on Project Management Best Practices
  • Setup Mentor Mentee Platform (for Senior Mangers and First time Managers)
  • Provide Global Project Health Report at Organisation level to Management

 

During Closure, PMO can

  • Store & document WBS
  • Store & document Risk Register
  • Update Estimations Templates (cost/schedule)

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Sivaram Athmakuri is Founder & Director of LeaderGains Pte. Ltd., an expert Coach, Consultant and Trainer. He has 20 plus years of Managerial Experience with strong technology expertise. He prepares Organisations in embracing latest technology / tools and turn the challenges as opportunities for Growth. He empowers Organisations & People across all levels (C-Suite, Management, Leadership, Program / Project Managers, Functional/ Line Managers, Team members at Projects/Delivery/Operations), etc. in areas of Leadership/Executive Coaching, Strategic Planning, Dashboards for C-Suite, Setup Project Management Office(PMO), Agile Transformation, Risk Management and Product Development. He believes in spending more time listening to Customer and understanding unique strengths of their existing environment helps him to generate the long lasting results faster with lesser friction.