Postscript for the Smaller PMO

The activities of this unique PMO" facilities and equipment support" function are ones that are generally performed by existing business units. Only the more advanced PMOs, particularly those having a global or enterprisewide scope of responsibility, are likely to need an intensive facilities and equipment control program. However, all PMOs should develop a fundamental facilities and equipment support capability as a means to make equipment acquisition, assignment, and disposition decisions in the project management environment that are responsive to project needs and to the business interests of the relevant organization.

To that end, the smaller PMO serves as a representative of project management environment equipment needs, and it should concentrate on the collection and analysis of equipment utilization information as the basis for that representation. It can perform facilities and equipment support, and thus achieve the necessary representation, by addressing the following suggested activities:

• The PMO should develop a general perspective on the needs of the project management environment facility so that it can analyze current project facility use and forecast future project facility requirements.

• The PMO should develop insight, if not a specific list, of prominent equipment used by all project teams. It should be able to discern, through collaboration with project managers and project team members in the field, whether present equipment adequately supports each project. It can then lead efforts in the business environment to identify and acquire equipment that is required or that will improve project team performance.

• The PMO should review the current assignment processes for project facilities and equipment. It can identify facility providers and equipment custodians and then collaborate with them to optimize processes for project management and business benefit. In turn, the PMO should incorporate the established approach for acquisition of facilities and equipment into the project management methodology that is deployed within the project management environment.