The document in English can be downloaded on PMI.ORG.

A very interesting analysis on multi-project PMOs (Project Management Office) produced by Brian Hobbs, University of Québec, in Montréal, and based on a survey of 500 PMOs.

The whitepaper confirms that PMOs are strongly influenced by the culture and context of their company and organizations and vary in roles, structure, legitimacy… Just like the tomoatoes on the picture, not 2 PMOs are alike while some polarities do exist among them such as:

• number of Project Managers in the PMO versus no PMs in the PMO
• decision making authority versus supportive

In the whitepaper, the author also highlights a lack of consensus on the value of PMOs that may partly explain the fact that 50% of PMOs are less than 3 years old while it takes a couple of years to fully deploy one. He further identifies in his analysis 27 functions that PMOs provide with the top 9 being:

1. Report project status to upper management
2. Develop and implement a standard methodology
3. Monitor and control project performance
4. Develop competency of personnel, including training
5. Implement and operate a project information system
6. Provide advice to upper management
7. Coordinate between projects
8. Develop and maintain a project scorecard
9. Promote project management within organization

So, if you’re running a PMO or planning to create one, I’m sure that you’ll find the 17 key findings of this study very worthwhile reading.