Lessons Learned from the PMMM Research Series
SERIES ARTICLE
By Darcy Prado, PhD
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Brazil
ABSTRACT
This is the eighth article in the series Lessons Learned from the PMMM Research. In this paper, we analyze the effect of discontinuity on the evolution of a department’s maturity. The scenarios that lead to discontinuity and the main types of this phenomenon are analyzed. Finally, the impact of discontinuity has on organizations and the careers of the professionals directly involved is analyzed. For a proper understanding of this article, readers should be familiar with the previous papers published in this journal [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10].
1 – INTRODUCTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PMO FOR MATURITY EVOLUTION
The evolution of a project department’s maturity strongly depends on the proper performance of the PMO. The PMO is responsible for assessing the current maturity level, identifying improvement needs, implementing a growth plan, and monitoring its execution.
Over the last 30 years, in our work as researchers and consultants, together with the consulting project management team, we have observed that the life of a PMO in Brazil is often subject to interruptions. These cases are not rare and deserve greater visibility due to their harmful effects on organizations and professionals, whose careers can be significantly impacted.
The causes of this phenomenon lie both within the internal environment of the organization and in the external economic health of the country. To understand what may lead to the discontinuity of a PMO’s work, it is necessary to analyze both the organizational and macroeconomic contexts, as discussed below…
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Editor’s note: The Project Management Maturity series of articles by Prof Darci Prado is based on his extensive research on this topic in Brazil and other countries. Darci is the developer of the Prado Project Management Maturity Model which has been successfully implemented by many organizations in Brazil. More about this model and related research can be found at. https://maturityresearch.com/en/home-en/
How to cite this work: Prado, D. (2025). Maturity Evolution: The ‘Discontinuity’ Factor, Lessons Learned from the PMMM Research, Series article 8, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue XI, November. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pmwj158-Nov2025-Prado-The-Discontinuity-Factor-maturity-series-article-8.pdf
About the Author
Darci Prado, PhD
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Brazil
Darci Prado is a consultant and partner of FALCONI in Brazil. He is an engineer, with graduate studies in Economical Engineering at UCMG and PhD in Project Management from UNICAMP, Brazil. He has worked for IBM for 25 years and worked with UFMG Engineering School for 32 years. He holds the IPMA Level B Certification. He was one of the founders of Minas Gerais State and Parana State PMI chapters, and he was a member of the Board Directors of the Minas Gerais State PMI chapter during 1998-2002 and member of the Consulting Board during 2003-2009. He was also the president of IPMA Minas Gerais State chapter during 2006-2008. He is conducting Project Management maturity research in Brazil and Italy. He is author of nine books on project management and is also author of a methodology, a software application, and a maturity model for project management. Darci can be contacted at darciprado@uol.com.br.
To view other works by Dr. Prado, please visit his author showcase in the PM World Library at https://pmworldlibrary.net/authors/darci-prado-phd/
