Establishing an Effective Project Office
–
The Core Requirements for Success
"So
much of what we call management consists of making it difficult for
people to work."
Peter
F Drucker
Keywords:
project office.
Establishing an Effective Project Office
– The Core Requirements for Success
[P005]
The implementation of a PO is a
long–term project in itself. There are a multitude of
considerations that can impact on the pace and scope of the PO service
eventually developed. A summary of the requirements is as
follows:–
- The primary requirements are essentially the
design phase. The designing of the initiation process, reporting
process, change management process and closure process can take from
three to six months. This phase is very controllable because it has a
limited effect on the projects.
- The secondary requirements establish the
infrastructure needed by the PO. This phase tends to be less
controllable. The training courses and organisational changes start to
impact on the majority of staff. This initial effect generates some
cultural resistance from stakeholders. Normally three to six months is
required for the secondary requirements.
- The tertiary requirements are the most critical
for long term success. The work practice acceptance, managing the PO
behaviour and cultural change considerations will take from twelve to
twenty four months or more. The majority of the benefits of the PO are
achieved by completing the tertiary requirements.
This paper outlines the stages, processes and
supporting systems architecture required to create and support a
successful Project Office.
