BOOK REVIEW
Book Title: The Power of Enterprise PMOs and Enterprise-wide Project Management
Author: Dennis Bolles and Darrel Hubbard
Publisher: PBM Concepts
List Price: $34.95
Format: Softcover, 374 pages
Publication Date: 2014
ISBN: 13-978-0-9858484-1-5
Reviewer: Bill Sundermann, PMP
Review Date: April, 2026
Introduction
The Power of Enterprise PMOs and Enterprise-Wide Project Management by Dennis L. Bolles and Darrel G. Hubbard is a guidebook for establishing project management as an integrative business function the authors term Project Business Management (PBM). Written explicitly for executives and senior managers, the book challenges traditional views of project management by positioning PBM as a core driver of enterprise value, organizational alignment, and measurable business outcomes. To accomplish strategic goals and objectives, the authors extend business management to apply project-portfolio, project-program, and project processes and lead the reader through all phases of the project lifecycle.
Overview of Book’s Structure
To achieve desired outcomes, the Enterprise Project Business Management Organization contains five major elements – governance, methodology, capability, planning, and execution. The book takes these five major elements and then builds then into what the authors call the Enterprise Project Business Management Organization House of Excellence with the pillars of the house representing each element. Sections of the book and underlying chapters then align with them.
An overview section describes project business management from the viewpoint of an executive running a business. Section 2 covers the Governance pillar and shows how setting policy, establishing charters, and providing an organizational model are impactful across multiple decision-making levels. Section 3 is all about structuring policies, practices and procedures using defined and integrated processes.
Section 4 Illustrates how the assessment of a company’s core competencies, along with developing adequate training and education opportunities, can benefit corporate goals. This section also details the steps to preparing a work breakdown structure, explains the benefits of system of project business management, and covers the cost accounting parameters to manage earned value measurements.
Section 5 is titled Planning and Execution, pillars four and five of the authors’ structure of excellence. Strategic and tactical planning are the main focus. Methodologies for developing, prioritizing, and initiating business objectives is also covered. Section 6 topics include discussion about how the developing stages of a maturity model leads to repeatable business success.
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How to cite this work: Sundermann, W. (2026). The Power of Enterprise PMOs and Enterprise-wide Project Management, book review, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue V, May. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pmwj164-May2025-Sunderman-Power-of-Enterprise-PMOs-book-review.pdf
About the Reviewer
Bill Sundermann
Texas, USA
With 27 years in the financial industry and PMP certification, Bill has been in leadership positions of large projects for a Fortune 500 software services company. With the adoption of scaled Agile, Bill was the Release Train Engineer for an enterprise architecture team that successfully developed a CI/CD pipeline for cloud deployments of a component-based modern banking platform. Having longevity of relationships, depth of experience, and a range of skills provides insight into the formation of high-performing teams and the ability to assess elements required for the highest impact. Bill can be contacted at bsundermann@verizon.net
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