Delivering IT PMO value: Understanding stakeholder perceptions and expectations

The burgeoning growth of the IT Project Management Office (IT PMO) in organisations worldwide is argued to result from the need for better management of IT projects. Despite being set up to ensure IT project success, many IT PMOs do not survive, possibly as a result of tensions and challenges. One prevailing tension that IT PMO managers face is the struggle to justify their IT PMO value. Prior research has uncovered a key factor behind this tension---the fact that these IT PMOs play multiple roles and have to meet the competing demands and expectations of stakeholders. This study examines the functions of the IT PMO and its core values with a visual framework to help the IT PMO team understand its stakeholders' perceptions and expectations. With this shared understanding, the IT PMO team is empowered to develop strategies to better service stakeholders, and therefore be perceived as delivering value.