Project Management Offices

1

As Smits (2020) shows, the PMO has become more streamlined in terms of where it should focus its energyspecifically on ensuring clarity, purpose, and understanding. That is why Smits (2020) emphasizes that strategic objectives need to be identified, empathy must be maintained within the team, and the organizational structure, clients and team all need understanding. This is different from the earlier article by Gale (2013) in which the PMO perspective is broader and more focused on a macro perspective with the focus on honing the mission, eyeing the horizon, setting standards, and cultivating support. What has changed is the fact that PMO is now more attentive to interpersonal communication.

PMO essentially relies on clarity, strategy, and interpersonal communication and empathy. Project management is the process of planning, organizing, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end. Project management is necessary in order to ensure that the project is completed on time, within budget, and within scope. In order to be successful, project managers must focus on clarity, strategy, and interpersonal communication and empathy. That said, the essentials of the job remain clarity, strategy, and understanding. Clarity refers to the ability to clearly see the desired outcome of the project. Strategy involves developing a plan for how to best achieve the desired outcome. Interpersonal communication and empathy are essential in order to effectively communicate with and understand the needs of team members. Without these three elements, it would be very difficult to successfully manage a project (Kline et al., 2020).

2

Based on the two articles by Gale (2013) and Smits (2020), a new PMO team member should have several characteristics to help make the team a success. Those characteristics include:

Ability to strategize

Good listener

Empathetic

Communicative

Supportive

Willing to adhere to standards

Ability to follow through on the mission

Each of these characteristics is really important in project management as shall now be explained.

First, the ability to strategize is important for a PMO team member. PMOs are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required standards. To do this, PMO team members need to be able to strategize effectively. This means being able to assess a situation, identify potential risks and opportunities, and develop a plan of action that will achieve the desired outcome (Smits, 2020). It also requires the ability to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to problems. PMO team members must be able to work collaboratively with other members of the team, as well as with stakeholders from outside the organization. Effective strategizing is essential for successful project management and PMO team members who are able to do this well are in high demand.

Second, PMO team members need to be good listeners. Listening is a critical skill for anyone in a project management role. PMO team members need to be able to listen to their colleagues, their clients, and their stakeholders in order to effectively manage a project. Listening allows PMO team members to understand the needs of their clients and stakeholders, and it also allows them to identify potential problems or areas of concern. Good listening skills also help PMO team members build relationships with their clients and stakeholders. By taking the time to listen to what others have to say, PMO team members can show that they value the input of others and that they are interested in working collaboratively (Smits, 2020). In short, being a good listener is essential for anyone in a project management role.

Third, PMO team members should be empathetic (Smits, 2020). The successful management of any project requires a deep understanding of the various stakeholders involved. This includes not only an understanding of their objectives and goals, but also their fears, concerns, and motivations. In order to effectively manage a project, team members must be able to put themselves in other people's shoes and see the situation from their perspective. Only then can they hope to build trust, resolve conflict, and ultimately...…for managing projects.

4

A compelling mission and vision statement for a PMO would look like this: The mission of the PMO is to ensure that projects are delivered successfully and efficiently, in order to realize the organizations strategic objectives. The PMO will achieve this by maintaining quality standards, managing risks, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies.

The vision of the PMO is to be recognized as a center of excellence for project management, providing best-in-class services that consistently deliver value to the organization. The PMO will achieve this through continual improvement of its processes and tools, and by developing its people to be world-class project managers.

5

In the past decade, leadership ideas have undergone a major shift. The traditional idea of a leader as someone who is in charge, makes decisions and gives orders has become increasingly outdated. In todays fast-paced, ever-changing world, leaders need to be more adaptable and responsive to the needs of their followers. They also need to be able to inspire and motivate others to achieve common goals. As the role of leaders has changed, so too has the way that leadership is taught and developed. There is now a greater emphasis on practical skills and experience, rather than theoretical knowledge. This change is likely to continue in the coming years as businesses and organizations face ever-greater challenges.

The articles thus suggest that while leadership is important, it is now more important that PMO leaders be more people-focused and oriented, as Smits (2020) suggests. The reason for this is that people in todays workplace want to feel empowered and connected, and good leaders can make that happen by being supportive, creating a culture of empathy, and keeping everyone in the loo through excellent communication. But it is also vital that leaders be able to communicate the vision and strategize of the PMO and to resolve conflicts and manage risks. Leadership cannot be ignored or done without. Both articles recognize it as vital, but Gale (2013) focuses more on the macro-perspective of leadership while Smits (2020) looks…