Episode 154: Business Driven PMO Setup; Chapter 2 - Organization: Constituent Oriented vs. Inwardly Focused

This week The PMO Podcast™ Featured Story introduces, “Business Driven PMO Setup; Chapter 2 - Organization: Constituent Oriented vs. Inwardly Focused” presented by Mark Perry (about Mark), host of The PMO Podcast™. Each chapter of the book starts off with a cartoon and the cartoon in Chapter 2 goes like this. There is a picture of a CIO standing next to members of the IT department. The CIO says, “Guys, I appreciate your ideas to reorganize the IT department, implement a PPM system, a roll out project management training. But I can’t take this to management.” One of the guys replies, “Why, what would it take?” And, the CIO quickly quips, “Needs of the business.” For many executives considering the implementation of a new PMO, this cartoon brings to light an all too familiar dilemma. No sooner than there is mention of the potential for a PMO than does a runaway train, fully loaded with ideas and opinions for what the PMO ought to be, leave the station. Regrettably, these ideas are not focused on the constituent, for whom the PMO exists to serve; rather these ideas are inwardly focused on the PMO itself as if it were a stand-alone business entity, unbridled and free to pursue whatever aims and course of direction it chooses. The PMO Podcast™ Points Memo presents, “Learn how to say no." We say "yes" to others because we want to please them. No one ever wants to say no or be viewed as not being helpful. But when eventually we can't do everything that is asked of us, we let them down and we feel guilty. Both parties suffer; we and the folks that we would like to help – even when we can’t. The first step in learning how to say no is to recognize that the desire to please is often what prevents us from saying no. The PMO Podcast™ Mailbag answers a listener question about whether or not a manager should ask direct reports to draft their incentive compensation plans. The PMO Podcast™ is sponsored by BOT International, the provider of Processes On Demand, a PMO Setup solution used by more than 1,000 companies.Request a Demo LoginThe PMO Podcast™ is a trademark of BOT International. The PMO Podcast™ and its RSS feed are copyright © by BOT International 2013. All rights reserved.