From PMO to OPM (Building and Sustaining the Organizational Project Management System)
Many organizations have invested into project management training, yet projects still fails, or provide less than optimal solutions. Other organizations have implemented project management offices (PMO), yet some of these PMO are failing, or not delivering the essential benefits, or not living up to executives' performance expectations. In other words, there are gaps. The gaps are in term of knowledge, expertise, practice, and perhaps are due to not implementing the right solution.
What is the solution? Is project management training enough? Is investing in certification training (such PMP, PRINCE2, or other certifications) enough? Are the certified individuals able to deliver benefits and improve organizational performance?
To achieve the strategic benefits of project management, it is CRUCIAL to close the gap between knowledge and practice, gaps that cannot be filled by training or certification only. Organizations must recognize the need to invest into their organizational project management as a system. A system approach will lead to implementing the governance, policies, processes, framework, and project management methodology for managing projects successfully.