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The progression of the "mentoring" function along the PMO competency continuum is characterized by increasing use of internally qualified senior project management mentors, combined with more personalized mentoring services as the project environment matures.
Table 13.1 provides an overview of the range of prescribed PMO project management mentoring activities according to each level in the PMO competency continuum.
Project Office | Basic PMO | Standard PMO | Advanced PMO | Center of Excellence |
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Requests and uses available to project management mentors to assist the project manager and project team in their achievement of project objectives | Introduces project management mentoring on an as-needed, ad hoc basis
| Establishes a more formal project management mentoring program
| Develops expanded scope of project management mentoring activities
| Performs mentoring program oversight and guidance
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The project office tends to be the primary user of the mentoring services provided by a higher level PMO. In the absence of a higher level PMO, it may independently acquire the services of a project management mentor, usually on an outsourcing basis. As well, the head of the project office — often a senior project manager — may be called upon to serve as a mentor to other project managers.
Mid-range PMO levels of the continuum have the responsibility of designing and establishing a mentoring support program that fits the needs of the relevant organization. This includes at least a fundamental capability to provide project management mentoring support to new project managers. This level of support evolves to dedicated and personalized mentoring of all project managers as PMO capability matures. In mature management project environments, mentoring services can be extended to include one-on-one transfer of skill and knowledge related to business issues, leadership development, and individual project manager goal achievement as mentor-prot g pairs become more defined.
The center of excellence develops, recommends, and implements policy for project management mentoring. It manages an advanced mentoring program that includes recurring evaluation of mentor effectiveness and mentoring program achievements.
The PMO's project management "mentoring" function provides project managers and project team members with access to qualified and experienced senior managers in the project management environment.
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