PMO and the Triple Constraint

26. November 2009 by Carol Glover.

PMO and the Triple Constraint If you are reading this BLOG, you probably know about the triple constraint in project management.  Scope, time and cost are the three elements of the triple constraint; you cannot change one without affecting the others.   I was going to add some statistics here to show how PMO has proven its ability to improve project success but I wasn’t able to find any I could really hang my hat on.  I can only guess that this is because if you don’t have a PMO, you probably don’t keep track of your successes, shortcomings and outright failures.  Doesn’t this alone prove my point?  Should I just stop the blog here?  Of course not! 

PMO and Scope Management:  The PMO provides processes and templates to capture project goals and scope as well as any related assumptions, constraints, dependencies and risks. Using these templates and standards results in a consistent processes setting a project baseline to which scope changes are managed.  The outcome and benefit is a predictable scope management practice that all levels of the organization or project team can count on and informed decisions are based on.  The PMO regularly reviews the scope management process and adjust it as the organization’s project maturity evolves.   

PMO and Time Management:  The use of repeatable processes and reusable tools saves time during all project phases.  Time is most noticeably saved during the initiation and planning phases of a project because you don’t have to reinvent the entire process from scratch.  You establish a familiar thought process that you know works; you don’t have to think about “how”, you can get into productive mode right away.   The PMO also contributes to effective time management through centralized resource management and access to historical data. PMO provides the necessary information and processes to produce better estimates in the planning phase. The PMO can aid in more effective resource selection and distribution through consultation or provision of skilled team members.    

PMO and Cost Management:  Tools, processes and templates provided by the PMO clearly contribute to cost savings. The PMO is in place to streamline the project lifecycle, affect rework as well as to remove redundancy and roadblocks.  The relationship to cost savings should be obvious: Time = Money.  The PMO, as warehouse for historical information contributes to cost management by enabling more accurate cost estimates during the initiation and planning phases.  Tracking tools provided by the PMO make sure that costs are tracked and controlled over the course of the project.   In summary, the PMO helps manage the triple constraint by providing a communication highway. Establishing a predictable flow of communication gives the entire organization a sense of confidence in the project process.  Stakeholders are more comfortable with backing a project when they know what they can expect along the way.  Relationships are easier to maintain when everyone understands their role, responsibilities and reporting structure.   

The PMO delivers consistent management of the triple constraint through the provision of quality data, tools and processes. This nearly guarantees repeatable, successful project delivery.  

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