Organizations need PMOs that are proactive, accountable, business savvy, and outcome driven.

PMI research has consistently demonstrated that high-performing PMOs are a critical driver of organizational success and their ability to thrive through change. Some PMOs today still struggle to make a strategic impact and become sidelined, relegated to lower-value roles focused on process enforcement rather than business outcomes.

Three essential areas where PMOs need to build beyond their current operational expertise:

✪ 1. Customer-centric approach: PMO leaders need to demonstrate a mindset to serve their internal and external customers by understanding and adapting to the diverse needs of stakeholders across the organization, and not over-focus on enforcing PMO processes as the primary driver of performance.

✪ 2. Strategic alignment and value realization management: Leaders want PMOs that think beyond project completion to business outcomes. They need partners who understand that delivering on time and budget means nothing if the project doesn’t deliver strategic value.

✪ 3. Data and technology integration: Senior Leaders expect PMOs to lead, not lag, in technology adoption as AI transforms project delivery. Those who don’t innovate, challenge the status quo, and embrace failures during the learning process, risk becoming obsolete.

These capabilities are underpinned by essential skills that PMO professionals must develop. Power skills, including communication, empathy, and relationship building, are crucial to nurture alignment across stakeholders to meet business goals. Adaptability and continuous learning complement these skills and ensure PMOs are constantly adapting to customer needs. Business acumen is vital to enable PMOs to navigate the increasingly complex global business environment and connect PMO services to organizational strategy.

PMI research confirms that PMOs are uniquely positioned in their organization to bridge the gap between strategy and execution. PMOs that address these critical capability gaps will dramatically increase their potential to deliver better business outcomes and more value to their organization.

Reference: PMI’s Thought Leadership Report