ProjectBest Practices: It's a Small World & the Value of PMO

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I have conducted a significant amount of international business this year. While spanning the globe, I realized it is a small, small world.

Countries, cultures and landscapes may differ, but project management challenges in business today seem eerily similar.

Here are some common trends I observe:

• PMO's continue to get a bad rap
• Project managers like to collect tools and templates with little thought to their value in supporting project needs or improve project practices
• Project teams are difficult to manage
• Project managers don't receive the respect they deserve
• Executives still don't get it

Beginning today and throughout future issues, I will provide my thoughts on each of these topics. Let's start with #1. In spite of increasing evidence showing direct correlation to project/business results when a PMO exists, organizations continue to have a love/hate relationship with PMO's. I believe there are five business values you can expect with a PMO:

1. Speed as a competitive advantage. An easy-to-use project management methodology enables people to move from vision to completion quickly.
2. Customer Satisfaction. Organizations that adopt project management see improvements in customer satisfaction. Because many projects are focused on product development, operations and process improvements, they directly improve the experience of the customer.
3. Proven Results. Monitoring project activities can improve overall project performance. Having "big brother" monitor project progress keeps people focused and driven.
4. Optimize Resources. Balancing resources between project needs and operational demands is tricky. Organizations that have project offices are better at managing limited resources to meet both needs.
5. Knowledge is Power. By capturing best practices and knowing what is and isn't working, companies can turn that information into insight and continuously improve project results supporting business success.

Declaring PMO value and sustaining it must mean relating back to business value. Does your PMO have a value proposition?

Now its time for you to join the conversation - Share your ideas, suggestions and thoughts on what the successful project manager looks like on our LIVE discussion on LinkedIn.

Contributor: Lisa DiTullio (Lisa DiTullio & Associates)

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Good collaboration is key within project planning teams

Method123.com has a nice article on the importance of collaboration within project planning teams and we'd like to share it with our blog readers. The article showcases how project planning teams no longer work in one office and brainstorm project requirements in the large conference room. Project teams have become global, with many team members working across the globe - this is where project management software and consistent reporting become key to project success. Method123.com writes, with project planning in teams by digital means, input can be received from any point on the globe where an important team member is located. This allows for companies to hire the best employees no matter what their location is.

What is your strategy for project planning with teams across the globe? What software and process work best for your work?

Learn more: Project Planning In Teams Takes a Good Collaboration Effort

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

Your project's success will depend heavily on stakeholder communication. Though we can't all be as smooth as Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke, we can avoid project failures by simply implementing a communication strategy. Technology News writes, that as Project Manager, it is your job to keep a number of people well-informed. It is essential that your project staff know what is expected of them: what they have to do, when they have to do it, and what budget and time constraints and quality specification they are working towards.

It is also your job to keep the Project Board informed of project progress. The Project Board usually includes the Executive (person ultimately responsible for the project), and representatives from the User and the Supplier.

What communication fails have you experienced? What advice can you give to new project managers in the art of communication? DM us on Twitter with your tips @project_world

Learn more: The Importance of Communication in Project Management