ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the different definitions and objectives of project and program offices, and the main services they provide to foster innovation and improve the effectiveness of global programs and projects. Many international companies and partnerships aim to implement a worldwide standard for program and project management practices, and to align the methods and procedures of different companies, countries and organisational units working on the same program or project. Program and project offices can achieve these goals. The project offices interact with all hierarchy levels of the company in different ways. The Project Management Offices (PMO) is a permanent team directly linked to the organisational structure, coordinating the management of the portfolios, programs and projects of one company or organisational unit. The PMO team members can be distributed across various countries. Different types of PMO exist in international companies, depending on their hierarchical position and the main functions provided to the organisation: corporate, regional, functional and outsourced.
