Difference Between PMO And Project Manager

Introduction

Nowadays, the IT industry is aware of project management. Most of the companies have been appointing PMOs and Project Managers to handle the projects. Still, people aren’t aware of the PMO and Project Management (PM) roles. People are confused between Project Manager and PMO as well as the PMO role and Project Management Office so while hiring candidates for Project Management, they are using the wrong titles to describe the job description. As a result of it, the right candidate does not get into the right profile and that will make for challenges in the future.

Let’s start with the Project Manager role.

Project Manager

The Project Manager is a person who takes overall charge of the project including planning, execution and managing resources, and scope of the project, i.e., end-to-end process.

The need for a Project Manager

Project Manager is a person who owns the project and is responsible for it. That means, success or failure of the project is completely dependant on the Project Manager. In another way, we can say, a Project Manager is an experienced professional who plans, handles, and executes the project as well as processes, resources, and stakeholders.

Project Manager's Skillset

A project manager must have a range of competencies including:

• Leadership
• People Management (customers, suppliers, functional managers and project team)
• Effective communication (verbal and written)
• Influencing
• Negotiation
• Conflict management
• Planning
• Contract management
• Estimating
• Problem-solving
• Creative thinking
• Time management
• Budgeting

Responsibilities of a Project Manager

• Planning
• Define the project objective
• Obtain Client agreement
• Gain the support of stakeholders
• Develop a statement of work
• Communicate a vision to the team
• Communication
• Develop a detailed plan
• Set up a project management information system
• Risk assessment and contingency plans
• System Configuration
• Organizing
• Allot resources to perform work
• Motivating the teams
• Maintain project documentation
• Executing, Controlling and Monitor progress
• Manage a change control process
• Develop corrective actions when necessary
• Handoff

Let’s focus on the PMO role now.

PMO

PMO stands for Project Management Office.

I have heard from many colleagues and seniors that PMO means ‘Project Management Officer’. But unfortunately, this definition has nothing to do with PMO. Actually, Project Management Office is a concept which is used in Project Management. PMO is a group of professionals in the business who help Project Managers in project management by monitoring and controlling the project.

PMO's Skillset

A PMO must have the following range of competencies,

• Leadership
• People management (customers, suppliers, functional managers and project team)
• Effective communication (verbal and written)
• Conflict management
• Problem-solving
• Creative thinking
• Time management

Responsibilities of PMO

• Gain the support of stakeholders
• Communicate a vision to the team
• Communication
• Risk assessment and contingency plans
• Allot resources to perform work
• Motivating the teams
• Maintain project documentation
• Controlling and Monitor progress
• Manage a change control process
• Develop corrective actions when necessary

Conclusion

In this article, we have seen that the Project Manager and PMO are two different entities in Project Management. The Project Manager's role is higher than that of PMO and the PMO works under the Project Manager.