This section will provide guidance through the first phases of the PMO startup roadmap:

• Assess the project environment

• Determine project management needs

• Establish a mission for transformation

• Sell the PMO concept

The first critical steps in the process of establishing a PMO include determining the needs of the organization from a project management perspective, defining the intended vision and goals of the PMO, and gaining organizational commitment to invest the necessary human and capital resources to start up and sustain the PMO in the organization. Without a clear vision of the purpose and goals for the PMO, the ability to sell the PMO concept to management will be severely limited. Additionally, establishing a clear vision for the initial role of the PMO in the organization will help to avoid PMO scope creep. This situation can cause the PMO to attempt to initially address too many issues and thus dilute its capability rather than focusing on establishing a firm footing in several key areas and expanding in terms of role and scope over time.

It is critical to define the organization s needs from a project management perspective, to determine how to translate these needs into a concise mission and set of initial goals for the PMO, and to determine how to sell this vision to management. These activities form the fundamental foundation upon which a successful PMO is built. Without management buy-in, a PMO will be doomed to...