Overarching structure of the project management office (PMO),

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

Considering the overarching structure of the project management office (PMO), portfolios, programs, and projects, what are the dynamics of team formation for each of these areas? What external and internal factors would be considered when forming a team within each of these structures?

How might your career path in the project management field include program or portfolio management?

Answer:

Please provide references and in-text citations for all of your posts (either from your assigned textbook and/or other journal or news articles). The link in the University library here provides information on citing sources: Reference & Citation Generator – Academic Resources (phoenix.edu).

Respond to the two following post below (in a minimum of 100 words). Be constructive and professional.

Post 1: (Karlene McGivan)

Considering the overarching structure of the project management office (PMO), portfolios, programs, and projects, what are the dynamics of team formation for each of these areas?

Project managers are put in place with the responsibility of ensuring that projects are completed successfully. With the task at hand will require initiation, planning, execute and control. Program managers provide all the necessary support to the project managers to have successful completion of the project. Programs are managed by being taken over from start to finish. Project management usually requires a shift from the traditional structure of the business which doesn’t always transition well. The changes are intended to create more success and benefits. Portfolios, project managers and program managers all have an oversight to make sure the project takes priority and is completed in time with the support of the overarching objectives of the company.

What external and internal factors would be considered when forming a team within each of these structures?

“Project managers are responsible for project administration and, therefore, must have the right to establish their own policies, procedures, rules, guidelines, and directives – provided these policies, guidelines, and so on conform to overall company policy. Companies with mature project management structures usually have rather loose company guidelines, so project managers have some degree of flexibility in how to control their projects.” (Kerzner, 2021, Chapter 1)

How might your career path in the project management field include program or portfolio management?

As far as my career in project management will be to procure and utilize all the resources given that are required to ensure completion of a successful project on time and target.

Answer:

Post 2: (Kirtreena Stroschein)

While the three are driven for the betterment of the company, they are each unique

Project Manager - individual who will deliver the project by leading on a day by day basis with organization and outlining plans while meeting both fixed schedules and budget targets

Program Manager - this is more likely to be on-going and if change in direction is needed it is more likely to occur on a quarterly or annual basis based off of data. This is an area where a difference is made over time rather than in a short frame on a budget

Portfolio Manager - much like a program manager there actions are focused on long term goals but their emphasis is geared towards the investments

Team dynamics is important to ensure how they will interact, communicate and truly work together for problem resolution. When financials and schedules are a factor the dynamics of the team can make or break the success of the project. Some factors that should be considered are the type of project, individuals experience and background, diversity of people, reliability, communication styles and bandwidth of each person

Although I am not sure how my career at this time would include both program or portfolio management. The idea of working on a long term strategy is appealing.

Full Answer Section

     
  • Portfolio: A portfolio team is typically composed of senior leaders who are responsible for overseeing the organization's portfolio of projects and programs. They are responsible for ensuring that the portfolio is aligned with the organization's strategic goals and objectives, and that the projects and programs are prioritized and resourced effectively.
  • Program: A program team is typically composed of project managers and other stakeholders who are responsible for the successful delivery of a program. They are responsible for coordinating the activities of the different projects within the program, and for managing the overall risks and dependencies.
  • Project: A project team is typically composed of the people who are directly involved in the delivery of a project. They may include project managers, engineers, designers, developers, and other specialists.
External and Internal Factors to Consider When Forming a Team When forming a team for any of these areas, there are a number of external and internal factors to consider.
  • External factors:
    • Customer requirements
    • Industry best practices
    • Regulatory requirements
    • Availability of resources
  • Internal factors:
    • Organizational culture and values
    • Core capabilities
    • Skills and experience of the workforce
How a Career Path in Project Management Can Include Program or Portfolio Management Program and portfolio management are both natural career paths for project managers with experience. Program managers are responsible for overseeing the delivery of multiple related projects, while portfolio managers are responsible for overseeing the organization's portfolio of projects and programs. To advance to program or portfolio management, project managers should develop their skills and experience in the following areas:
  • Strategic planning
  • Resource management
  • Risk management
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Communication and leadership
They should also seek out opportunities to lead and mentor other project managers. Example: A project manager with experience in leading complex IT projects may be well-positioned to advance to a program manager role responsible for overseeing the delivery of a new IT system. Or, a project manager with experience in managing a portfolio of IT projects may be well-positioned to advance to a portfolio manager role responsible for overseeing the organization's portfolio of IT and business projects. Conclusion The dynamics of team formation vary depending on the level of the organization, but there are a number of external and internal factors that should be considered when forming a team for any of these areas. Project managers with experience can advance to program or portfolio management roles by developing their skills in strategic planning, resource management, risk management, stakeholder engagement, communication, and leadership.  

Sample Answer

   

The dynamics of team formation vary depending on the level of the organization.

  • PMO: A PMO team is typically composed of experienced project managers who are responsible for developing and implementing project management standards and best practices across the organization. They may also provide support and guidance to project managers on individual projects.