Beyond Project Oversight
From the Podcast: Summary of a recent Interview on
The Project Management Podcast
SERIES ARTICLE
By Cornelius Fichtner
Arizona, USA
(This article is based on The PM Podcast Episode 518, an interview with Demi Anderson.)
Project Management Offices (PMOs) are often viewed as administrative support functions, focused on templates, reports, and compliance. However, when structured correctly, a PMO can be a strategic enabler that directly impacts business outcomes. In a recent episode of The PM Podcast, Demi Anderson, a PMO expert with over 30 years of experience, shared key insights on how PMOs can evolve beyond oversight and deliver real business value.
The Role of a PMO in Business Success
Demi emphasizes that not all PMOs are the same—they operate at different levels: project, program, and portfolio. A successful PMO is one that aligns its structure, governance, and services with the organization’s strategic priorities. When implemented effectively, a PMO provides better resource allocation, risk management, and executive decision-making support, ensuring that projects contribute directly to business goals.
Yet, many organizations fail to define their PMO’s true purpose. Some focus solely on reporting, while others struggle with unclear mandates. According to Demi, PMOs must clearly articulate their value proposition—whether it’s ensuring project execution, improving portfolio decision-making, or driving organizational agility.
Key Takeaways
- A PMO is not just administrative – When properly structured, it plays a strategic role in aligning projects with business objectives.
- One size does not fit all – PMOs vary in scope (project, program, or portfolio level) and must be tailored to organizational needs.
- Strategic alignment is essential – A PMO must integrate with executive priorities to deliver real business value.
More…
To read entire article, click here
Editor’s note: The author Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, CSM is an author, speaker, course creator, and since 2005 host of the world-famous Project Management Podcast. In this new series, Cornelius provides a summary of a recent podcast on a topic that we think will be of interest to our readers. This article is based on The PM Podcast Episode 515, an interview with Bryan Barrow. For more, see his author profile at the end of this article.
How to cite this work: Fichtner, C. (2025). PMO Success: Driving Business Value Beyond Project Oversight, From the Podcast: Summary of a recent Interview on The Project Management Podcast, series article, PM World Journal, Volume XIV, Issue IV, April. Available online at http://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pmwj151-Apr2025-Fichtner-pmo-success-from-the-podcast-series.pdf
About the Author
Cornelius Fichtner
Arizona, USA
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, CSM is an author, speaker, course creator, and host of the world-famous Project Management Podcast. He is also well known for creating one of the first and most renowned PMP Exam Simulators, offering PMP practice exams that have helped countless students effortlessly pass their PMP Exam.
He says that the main way he helps candidates pass their exams is by letting his enthusiasm for project management shine through during training. Students and podcast listeners often comment on how he can make an academic subject like PM theory come alive to motivate, excite, and inspire them with this ‘dry’ subject.
He is a past president of the PMIOC Chapter and a PMI-OC Fellow. He lives in Tucson, Arizona, USA, with his wife, cats, and their four computers. Cornelius can be contacted at cornelius.fichtner@osp-international.com
You can find The Project Management Podcast™ at https://www.project-management-podcast.com, and The Project Management PrepCast™ at https://www.project-management-prepcast.com. If you are preparing for your PMP exam, then take a look here: https://www.pm-exam-simulator.com.
