Setting standards and achieving compliance

14. June 2010 by Sasha Lomas.

It is one thing to set standards. It is anther thing to achieve compliance. Setting standards means choosing the right processes and templates for the organization and making them a standard for the workforce to use. Achieving compliance is getting the team to follow the process and use the templates. This brings a whole new meaning to the PMO as the bridge between the people and the process and templates. 

In previous discussions we talked about if and how to get started with Project Management Office, the benefits that can be realized and what needs to happen to get started. The primary focus was on “Setting Standards”.

Once the standards are set, it is fair to assume that………

1. You have completed the assessment, selected or created standard templates for projects from initiation to closure. The templates are easily accessible to all project managers and team leads. Next step is to make sure that they are used.
2. You have defined the success criteria for the PMO as compliance to project management methodology and correct use of standard templates. 

Now the fun starts. You need to get the team to buy in, follow the process, use the templates, achieve compliance.

The first step we recommend is COMMUNICATION. It is important to make sure that everyone who interacts with the PMO and uses the standards and templates, has read and understands the …………..

• company’s Project Management Methodology
• Role of PMO
• where to find the templates
• how to use the templates
• what is the process and turn around time to review the documents for compliance before they are submitted for approval
• the tracking and reporting that the PMO does to acheive compliance

The PMO should provide a single online repository for the Project Management Methodology and templates with guidelines on how to use them.  Regular lunch and learn meetings should be held to provide an opportunity to address any questions, provide training and collect feedback from the trenches.

We invite you to share with us your experience on setting up your standards and achieving compliance. Questions, comments, discussions are welcome as they will benefit all.

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