Atkins Breakfast Briefing (11/06/08)
Programme Management Office – Cornerstone or Commodity?
Our Breakfast Briefing on Wednesday June 11 in Westminster looked at the Programme Management Office and how it contributes to the success of the Transformational Government. Our question for the day was “Is the PMO cornerstone or commodity?” The answer we expected, of course, was "Both."
How can you manage a major programme of IT-enable change without first-class management information? Without visibility there is no control and so the PMO is vital to programme success. If everyone must have one then it becomes a commodity; but that is not to say that it is not important; and we notice commodities most when the power fails or the water is cut off. The PMO is lifeblood for programme management.
However, it is equally true that when something becomes commodity we look closely at how much it costs. Our Breakfast Briefing highlighted some interesting and incisive views on how much you need to / should pay for a PMO. David Chapman from the Home Office provided some fascinating statistics on how costs vary with scale. Not that cost was his only concern – he offered similar insights into the evolution of the PMO function and how it fits into the organisation.
Michael Charles, of Atkins, and Martin Cogger, from another Government Agency, offered alternative ways of looking at the role and evolution of the PMO in the organisation. Michael offered a view on the evolution of the PMO function as the organisation develops in maturity from project (deliverable) focus through programme (benefits) to portfolio (investment). Martin noted, from his experience of working with Atkins on one of Europe’s largest PMO functions, that the PMO can also play a role as a change-agent for the way the business operates.
If you are working on a major change programme and you are suffering from a lack of good management information then get a PMO – call the experts and find out how Atkins can deliver. Alternatively, talk to us about how to ensure maximum value from your existing PMO.
For further information, or if you are interested in attending future briefings, please contact Melody Laidlaw by email or telephone: 020 7121 2786.