Configuration Options for a Project Management Office

Miami University (Ohio) completed it's first-ever IT Strategic Plan (URL noted below), resulting in highly critical and visible projects to undertake without benefit of an established project management methodology. Concurrent with our IT strategic planning effort, we brought in consultants to assist with project management. While the strategic planning effort was underway, consultants assisted with the establishment of a project management office (PMO) and a project management methodology. As a result of the IT strategic planning effort, the central IT budget received a $3.2 million increase -- half during fiscal year 2005 followed by full funding in 2006. The 35 initiatives identified as a result of the strategic plan and the resulting increased funding heightened campus community expectations and raised awareness of the need to become much more effective in project management.