Over the past five years, the use of project management offices (PMOs) has increased by 20%. According to our study, Project Management Office Best Practices, the full use of PMOs for every IT project is among the highest-rated best practices. The shift toward hybrid and remote work has put a significant strain on projects as teams must collaborate in hybrid settings and still finish projects on time and within budget.
The figure below from the full study shows an increasing trend for the PMO practice rate. This level rose considerably to 85% of organizations this year from a previous high of 79% in 2022. This means that more organizations that establish PMOs are making frequent use of the support, systems, and processes they provide.
A good PMO improves communication across all departments involved in a project. It ensures that those involved are aware of their tasks and responsibilities. Furthermore, having a PMO in place helps safeguard the accountability of individuals and their specific tasks and deliverables. PMO leaders also help centralize collaboration. As a result, organizations experience improved productivity and better time management.
Another advantage of having the PMO as a distinct group is that it provides focus. The PMO produces an environment where IT professionals who show promise as project managers are trained in the principles and techniques of project management. The PMO also selects project management tools, such as project planning and scheduling systems, so that they are readily available when new projects are launched.
One probable reason for its growth is the increasing shift toward hybrid and remote operations. Many organizations now have employees and, in some instances, full departments that work remotely. Having remote workers means that the business must have highly efficient communication systems. All workers must be abreast of projects, regardless of physical distance. There is no doubt that project management best practices are much needed for projects of all sorts and that PMOs should adjust to new ways of developing new systems and IT capabilities. Setting up a successful PMO requires a strategic approach.
“Establishing a successful PMO requires meticulous planning, a well-defined vision, and a systematic approach to implementation,” said Waynelle John, research analyst at Computer Economics, a service of Avasant based in Los Angeles. “Nonetheless, PMOs have become necessary and highly practiced due to modern work processes.”
Our full study examines the extent to which IT organizations have deployed PMOs and measures the level of engagement in the practice. We also look at how the adoption of this IT management best practice differs by organization size and sector. Additionally, we provide recommendations for monitoring the success of the PMO.
This Research Byte is a brief overview of our report, Project Management Office Best Practices. The full report is available at no charge for subscribers; it may be purchased by non-clients directly from our website. (click for pricing)