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Project Management & Agile · Foundational

Project Management Office (PMO)

An organizational structure that standardizes project governance and facilitates sharing of resources, methods, tools, and techniques.

Definition

PMI describes three PMO types by degree of control: supportive (low control, provides templates and lessons), controlling (moderate control, requires compliance with frameworks), and directive (high control, directly manages projects). Modern PMOs may also act as value delivery offices or agile centers of excellence.

Example

A controlling PMO requires every project to use the standard risk register template and pass phase-gate reviews.

Exam tip

Know the three PMO types and their control levels; 'directive' PMOs assign project managers.

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