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Better Project Management Performance With Six Sigma
Better Project Management Performance With Six Sigma
Sponsor/Champion
o Who will be where the buck stops? The project Sponsor/Champion must hold a position high enough in the
organization to enforce the plans defined for the PMO.
Business impact
o What are the quantifiable desired gains from the PMO?
o What stands to be gained when from a successful PMO?
Opportunity or problem
o What is the current quantifiable deficiency that has caused the need for a PMO?
o What is the greatest pain the PMO is targeted to heal?
Goal statement
o What should the PMO look like and produce?
o What will the data say to provide a picture of success?
PMO scope
o What should the PMO be doing and not be doing?
o Where should and should not the PMO operate?
Project plan
o How long and when will the PMO operate?
o What are the key milestones in its development and measurement?
PMO team
o Who are the players on this project?
o Who will manage the daily activities?
o Who will participate in establishing the PMO?
DMEDI Step 1: Define
In order to maximize individual project performance, the companys senior leadership must first establish and
agree upon what the overall objective is for the PMO. This objective must fall in line with the overall companys
and customers objectives. Without a corporate standard and objective for the PMO that is globally accepted,
individual projects have little chance of being viewed in their proper light.
This task is significant and many organizations still struggle with it. Operational definitions must be clearly
defined and reinforced by C-level management. Without their support, the implementation and adherence to
these operational definitions will cause project performance to be seen as lacking. Operational definitions
which need clear definition include:
Remember to ensure that all of the functions in the PMO model are measurable. Therefore this is the perfect
time to build a system to measure the PMOs services. This system must measure each project key metrics
and aggregate their sums.
Ultimately a Design for Lean Six Sigma deployment is the most logical course for any organization seeking to
develop a strong PMO or resurrect an ailing one. The DMEDI roadmap can guide any company through the
development process and help reduce or eliminate unwanted complexity. Proper use will infuse the PMO with
customer-oriented services that satisfy the customers most important needs.