Standards and Metrics Activities Across the PMO Continuum

The "standards and metrics" function along the PMO competency continuum is initially characterized by the introduction of standard approaches to project and technical performance management. This capability progresses to the identification and implementation of more comprehensive standards, as well as a broader use of metrics in the project management environment. At the high end of the continuum, the PMO will influence the use of standards and metrics that interface with the business unit and the organization's strategic interests.

Table 3.1 presents an overview of the range of prescribed PMO standards and metrics activities according to each level in the PMO competency continuum.

Table 3.1: Range of Standards and Metrics Activities across the PMO Continuum

Project Office	Basic PMO	Standard PMO	Advanced PMO	Center of Excellence
Applies established and approved standards and metrics to project management activities	Introduces basic standards and metrics to facilitate a consistent approach to project management Specifies project management standards for processes and tools Develops metrics for critical project management activities Facilitates metrics for technical performance Measures and analyzes project and technical performance	Introduces more-comprehensive standards and metrics to improve project performance Selects and uses preferred project management life cycle standards Develops metrics for examination of methodologies and tool use Develops competency metrics for project management Benchmarks project management practices, processes, and procedures	Manages standards and metrics to integrate business and organizational interests Selects and uses preferred models for project management, technical maturity, and capability Develops metrics for managing project selection and strategy alignment Measures and analyzes project contributions to business performance	Manages standards and metrics to help achieve cross-functional business objectives Participates in or leads standards and certification activities for the organization Collaborates with business unit managers to identify metrics requirements and uses Develops standards and metrics for vendor and contractor use

The primary user of standards and metrics established within the relevant organization is the project office. In the absence of a higher level PMO, it may independently specify a limited number of project management standards and metrics in collaboration with other affected project managers. The project office will not likely venture into developing and implementing business standards, inasmuch as that is a collaborative, cross-functional effort. However, it will apply business-related standards and metrics when they are integrated into project management and technical processes and practices.

Mid-range PMO levels of the continuum have the responsibility of introducing project management and associated technical and business standards and metrics into the project management environment. In particular, these PMOs will focus on selecting or recommending standards for use within the relevant organization. Thereafter, they will conduct benchmarking against those standards to identify a basis from which to plan and measure project, technical, and business performance improvement. In addition, the mid-range PMO will identify a variety of metrics by initially addressing requirements for project and technical performance metrics and then by integrating organizational and business metrics as the PMO function responsibility and capability expand.

The center of excellence performs the "standards and metrics" function with attention to the relevant organization's broader business and cross-functional interests. It contributes information and experience based in its selection and implementation of standards and metrics used in the project management environment to serve the broader business integration and standardization needs of the organization.

In many cases, the standards and metrics that this PMO function establishes will have direct implications on how other PMO functions are performed. Thus, the inauguration of standards and metrics in the project management environment should weigh the interrelationships of all PMO functions.