Business Environment Interface Concepts

As the underwriter of career advancement in the project management environment, the PMO will be able to guide and lead individuals in their professional pursuits with consistency and alignment to the business needs and objectives of the relevant organization. In the absence of a formal project management career path, individuals would tend to associate with a closely related technical discipline, which may or may not have project manager development as a primary focus, and therefore limits their professional growth. Or they will opt to find their own ways and means to professional growth using resources available to them individually and not necessarily in a direction aligned with business interests.

The relevant organization also can use this PMO function to ensure that comparable career advancement opportunities are extended to individuals working in the project management environment. This is particularly important if the relevant organization historically has high retention rates and promotes from within. It will want to ensure that it helps prepare that group of individuals working in the project management environment to be competitive for advancement opportunities in other areas of the business. Establishing a career path for individuals in the project management environment places them on equal footing with other professionals within the relevant organization.