Project management. It is important to be efficient in this if you want to see your business have some success.
Luckily for you, PMO (project management office) software is becoming more available for you to utilize. The industry was worth over $6 billion at the end of 2021 and is expected to be worth over $15 billion by the end of the decade.
If you are new to this, you may be wondering what types of PMOs are out there. What type of PMO structure should you follow?
These are five types of project management offices that you can use.
1. Supportive PMO
One type of PMO you can utilize without making a big splash is supportive PMO. This is one of the best types of PMO in project management that you can use to encourage creativity and growth for your team.
Why is this? Because this type of PMO is designed to only be in the background. In other words, your team is taking the lead, and your team’s ideas will carry this project.
This PMO will be there to offer any assistance and support for business teams that need to create a project. What it will not do is get in the way of workplace projects that operate a little outside of the normal protocol.
Supportive PMO is great for teams that need little micro-managing from the top.
2. Controlling PMO
This next PMO structure is a slight step up from supportive PMO. When it comes to controlling PMO, there is a little more influence from upper management.
Here, the support that they offer has to be utilized. So, imagine you are seeing the tools that the supportive PMO has for your workplace projects. You may not have known how to fit all of those tools into your project.
With this type of PMO, you would have to find a way to get these assets as part of your project.
Picture a list of rules and guidelines for your business projects. This PMO is the person at the head of your office, ensuring that those guidelines are followed. You can almost think of this as a supervisor who may not be the one making the decisions but is enforcing them.
While business teams still have a little freedom for their business projects here, they still have to stay somewhat in one lane.
3. Directive PMO
Think of a directive PMO as the general manager of the company. This role will be the person in charge of everyone that has to do with business projects.
It can be one of the best types of PMO structures for new businesses, businesses with a lot of new employees, or businesses that want to redefine their image. In other words, this fits businesses trying to create or massively change their culture.
When this type of commitment is happening, everyone needs to be on the same page. So, a directive PMO can tell everyone involved exactly what needs to be done and exactly how it has to happen.
Regarding project management, this person will assign people to supervise the projects and give them reports on how the project is progressing.
4. Centralized PMO
If your company is a more fragile operation or one that has high safety standards, centralized PMO may be the way to go for you.
When it comes to PMO structure and roles, few types of PMO structures are more clear-cut than this. Sometimes, they can be accused of being micro-managers.
This one gets used to keep track of materials in sensitive work environments such as oil rigs. It also helps reinforce safety standards in these types of places.
Think about it. Accidents can happen in dangerous work environments regularly. This can happen to employees, and sometimes it can even happen to guests or outside observers.
This type of PMO structure can help prevent those types of accidents and get workers to be more proactive when it comes to safety measures.
5. Decentralized PMO
This is a stark contrast to the PMO structure listed above. The main reason why this is the case is that you typically do not have higher powers telling you what to do. It is one of the best types of PMO in project management when it comes to giving business teams complete freedom and power over their business projects.
Do you want your team to not feel limited in creativity? Do you need an idea different from your norm to potentially save this business? Are you trying to think of a way to completely change your industry?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is one of the best types of project management offices that you can ask for. Some people do not flourish with order and consistency. Do not be afraid to shake things up.
See More Types of PMO
These are just five types of PMO that you can use to manage your business projects.
If you are looking for something with little to no interference with business teams, you need a decentralized PMO or a supportive PMO. However, for companies that need more central control on projects, the centralized, directive, and controlling PMOs could be better for you.
Do you have an idea of what is right for you? See what we can offer you here for your PMO structure and roles.
