A project management office (PMO) should make delivery easier, not add paperwork. The most useful PMOs start small and focus on a few things done well.
Start with three essentials
- A single, agreed programme for every project, with a clear baseline.
- A simple monthly report that shows schedule, cost and the top risks.
- A change process so the baseline only moves for a recorded reason.
Once these work, add resource planning, portfolio dashboards and lessons learned. Build the PMO around the decisions leaders need to make.