PMO Setup & Project Governance
Projects without governance are expensive gambles. You can’t manage what you can’t see. I help organizations build PMO structures that provide visibility, accountability, and control—without burying teams in bureaucracy.
The Real Cost of Missing Governance
Without proper governance, organizations typically experience:
- Projects running over budget with no early warning
- Resource conflicts as initiatives compete for the same people
- Scope creep that nobody catches until it’s too late
- Status reporting that’s optimistic fiction rather than useful truth
- Decisions made without clear authority or criteria
- Completed projects that don’t deliver expected benefits
- Repeated failures because lessons aren’t captured or applied
A functioning PMO doesn’t create overhead—it prevents chaos. It gives leadership visibility into what’s happening and teams clarity on how to operate.
My Approach to PMO & Governance
I’ve seen PMOs fail because they were too heavy, too theoretical, or disconnected from how work actually happens. My approach is different:
Right-sized for your organization
A 50-person company doesn’t need enterprise-grade governance. I design frameworks that fit your scale, culture, and maturity level—and can grow as you do.
Practical over theoretical
Every template, process, and meeting cadence has a purpose. If it doesn’t add value, it doesn’t exist. Teams should see governance as helpful, not burdensome.
Focused on outcomes
The point isn’t having a PMO. The point is delivering projects successfully, using resources effectively, and making better decisions. Everything ties back to those outcomes.
What You Get
- ✓ PMO maturity assessment and gap analysis
- ✓ Governance framework tailored to your organization
- ✓ Project lifecycle with stage gates and decision criteria
- ✓ Portfolio management approach and prioritization methodology
- ✓ Reporting structure and dashboards for leadership visibility
- ✓ RACI matrices and decision rights documentation
- ✓ Templates: charters, status reports, risk registers, change requests
- ✓ PMO team coaching and capability development
- ✓ Implementation roadmap with change management support
Governance That Actually Works
Project Intake & Prioritization
A clear process for evaluating new requests, sizing efforts, and deciding what gets resourced—so the right projects get attention.
Stage Gates & Decision Points
Defined checkpoints where projects are reviewed, risks assessed, and go/no-go decisions made with real data.
Portfolio Visibility
Dashboards and reporting that show leadership what’s actually happening across initiatives—status, risks, resource utilization, and forecast.
Resource Management
Clarity on who’s working on what, where conflicts exist, and how to allocate capacity to priorities.
Risk & Issue Management
Processes to identify risks early, escalate issues appropriately, and track resolution.
Lessons Learned
A practical approach to capturing what worked and what didn’t—so you stop repeating the same mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a PMO up and running?
A basic PMO can be operational in 6-8 weeks. A more comprehensive setup with mature processes takes 12-16 weeks. The timeline depends on scope, organizational complexity, and how quickly stakeholders can engage.
We tried to set up a PMO before and it failed. What would be different this time?
Most PMO failures come from being too heavy, lacking executive sponsorship, or not fitting the culture. I design governance that’s right-sized and practical. And I make sure you have the sponsorship and change management needed for adoption.
Do we need dedicated PMO staff?
Not necessarily. Some organizations have dedicated PMO teams. Others distribute governance responsibilities across existing roles. We’ll design an operating model that fits your resources and needs.
What project management methodology do you recommend?
It depends on your work. I don’t push a specific methodology. Waterfall, Agile, hybrid—the right approach fits your project types, team capabilities, and organizational culture. Often a pragmatic hybrid works best.
Can you help us select and implement project management software?
Yes. I’m tool-agnostic and can help evaluate options (Microsoft Project, Monday.com, Smartsheet, Jira, etc.) based on your needs and budget. Tool selection happens after governance design, not before—otherwise you end up with software that doesn’t fit your processes.
Get Project Delivery Under Control
Let’s discuss your governance challenges and what a PMO could look like for your organization.