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Roger Frederick's headshot
Roger Frederick CFO

What is the difference between the role of PMO and Project Manager?

Asked on April 5, 2016

difference between pmo and project managerWhat are the differences between a PMO vs project manager?

Answers

Len Green's headshot
Len Green Performance Improvement Consultant and ERP Strategist • January 7, 2013

Roger
In short a project manager will manage a project; a PMO team manages a portfolio of projects (aka a program). A PMO normally also makes sure that all projects are staffed, executed according to consistent standards and that there is a clear linkage of each project to the organizational strategy. A project manager needs to leverage the resources of a PMO to execute his/her project according to consistent standards, etc.

Regards
Len

comment-icon 1
Sarah Jackson's headshot
Sarah Jackson Associate Editor • May 6, 2016

Good question, Roger.

Proformative offers 400+ online business courses with free CPE, many on Project Management.

Linda Wright's headshot
Linda Wright Consultant • January 9, 2013

Len has got it according to my experience. The head of the PMO is often a well experienced project manager who has had successive, increasingly more complex projects up to programs to manage. At my former companies, the PMO was often housed in the IT organization. But at the end of my tenure at a large financial services company, it moved to the CFO's organization where it had heightened visibility and success.

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