Project Management Oversight—Good Tool for Program Managers

Abstract

Project management oversight (PMO) is a concept employed by federal agencies and some private owners to monitor the effective implementation of their projects. The PMO consultant (PMOC) must perform several roles, including independent observer, communicator and stimulus for action, buffer, and counselor. The maximum value of applying this concept for any program of design and construction projects is obtained if there is open‐minded acceptance of independently developed opinion on management and staffing of the project. If this is achieved, the project will avoid delays and cost overruns that derive from problems in these “soft” areas of decision‐making capacity and timeliness, staff technical and administrative capacity, and cumbersome management processes.